NORMAN, Okla. — Duke Miles scored a season-high 29 points to lead No. 14 Oklahoma past Central Arkansas 89-66 on Sunday afternoon. Jeremiah Fears had 19 points and Jalon Moore added 17 for the Sooners (12-0), who remain one of four unbeaten teams. Oklahoma made 33 of 68 shots (48%) from the field, scored 40 points in the paint, and converted 12 Central Arkansas turnovers for 24 points.
Layne Taylor netted 16 points, with Elias Cato contributing 13 and Ben Fox adding 12 for Central Arkansas (3-9), which struggled shooting, making only 24 of 64 attempts (38%). Oklahoma took control with Miles’ impressive first half, leading 46-37 at the break after he scored 20 points, making 7 of his 9 shots from the field, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.
Oklahoma's dominance was evident as Fears scored 15 of his game-high 19 points after halftime, and Moore contributed 11 points to help pull away late. Central Arkansas, closing the gap to 54-47 on Taylor's 3-pointer, was swiftly punished by Oklahoma's ensuing 13-1 run, birthing leads as large as 19 points.
The Sooners excelled on the fast break, achieving a remarkable 33-3 advantage over Central Arkansas, showcasing their speed and discipline on defense. With this victory, Oklahoma will be hosting Prairie View A&M on December 29.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jalen Brunson exploded for 39 points, 29 of those coming exclusively in the second half to lead the New York Knicks to a 104-93 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday night. Despite facing tough defensive pressure from All-NBA player Herb Jones early, Brunson shifted gears after halftime, scoring 16 points—including 13 consecutive during a searing 22-6 run—to erase what was once a 13-point deficit.
By the fourth quarter, Brunson had scored 9 of the Knicks’ first 13 points, propelling New York to capitalize and build their lead to 95-81. The Pelicans, suffering their 15th loss out of their last 16 games, saw Trey Murphy III lead their scoring with 26 points, as Dejounte Murray added 14 to the team’s efforts.
Both teams now face significant challenges moving forward. The Knicks look to build on their momentum as they host Toronto on Monday night, eager to follow up on their recent victory. Meanwhile, the Pelicans, seeking solace from their grim recent streak, are set to face Denver on Sunday, hoping for a change of fortunes.
