No. 12 Oklahoma closes out nonconference play with a 72 56 win over Monmouth

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Jalon Moore scored 21 points and No. 12 Oklahoma concluded its nonconference schedule with a 72 56 win over Monmouth on Sunday. Otega Owen scored 13 points, Javian McCollum added 11 and Milos Uzan had 10 for the Sooners (12 1), who shot 48.2% from the field after a slow start.

OU hosts Iowa State on Saturday to open Big 12 Conference play for the final time before moving to the Southeastern Conference next season. Oklahoma faced Monmouth, a member Coastal Athletic Association, for the first time. Jack Collins led Monmouth (7 6) with 14 points and Nakita Konstantynovskyi, a transfer from Tulsa, added 11 points.

The Hawks shot 36.2% from the field and were held without a field goal for the game’s final 5:10. Monmouth hadn't played since defeating Manhattan on Dec. 21. Both teams shot poorly during a low scoring first half. Oklahoma, which shot 38%, trailed 25 23 with 2:02 left, prompting a timeout. The Sooners finished with a flurry after that, getting consecutive 3 pointers from Uzan, McCollum and Oweh to take a 32 28 lead at the break.

OU extended the lead to 36 28 early in the second half before going cold and being held scoreless for four minutes. During that stretch, Monmouth went on a 14 5 run to take a 42 41 lead on a dunk by Jaret Valencia at the 13:08 mark. Oklahoma responded in a big way, outscoring the Hawks 22 4 over the next eight minutes.

The run was punctuated by two dunks and a 3 pointer by Moore, putting OU ahead 63 46 with six minutes to go. UP NEXT Oklahoma: Hosts Iowa State on Saturday to open Big 12 Conference play. Monmouth: Hosts Towson on Saturday. ___ AP college basketball: and.