Hield Scores 33, Leads No. 3 Oklahoma Past Creighton 87-74
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NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Buddy Hield scored a career-high 33 points to help No. 3 Oklahoma pull away from Creighton for an 87-74 win on Saturday.
Creighton cut Oklahoma's lead to 71-68 in the second half before Hield, a preseason All-American, scored nine straight points in 1:22 to put the game out of reach.
Jordan Woodard had 15 points and seven rebounds, Isaiah Cousins had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Ryan Spangler added 15 rebounds for the Sooners (8-0), who have won their past seven games by double digits. The Sooners shot 46 percent from the floor.
Maurice Watson scored 19 points, Cole Huff scored 12 and James Milliken added 11 for the Bluejays (7-4), who stunned Oklahoma 65-63 in Omaha last year. Oklahoma, which entered the game No. 2 in the nation in field-goal percentage defense, held the Bluejays to 36.5 percent shooting.
Creighton scored the first five points, but Oklahoma scored the next 12. The Sooners kept up their efficient shooting and led 45-38 at halftime after Creighton's Khyri Thomas hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. The Sooners made 6 of 11 3-pointers and shot 51 percent overall in the first half.
The Bluejays cut their deficit to one on a pair of free throws by Watson, but Oklahoma responded with the next six points to force a Creighton timeout. Thomas missed a dunk, then Oklahoma's Dinjiyl Walker made a layup on the other end and Khadeem Lattin got a put-back dunk to make it 66-59.
After Creighton threatened again and cut it to three, Hield's flurry put the Sooners in control for good.
TIP-INS
Creighton: All five starters average double figures points, but none average more than 12.0. ... Beat rival Nebraska 83-67 on Dec. 9. ... Made 12 of 26 3-pointers.
Oklahoma: Entered the game leading the nation in 3-point percentage while ranking fourth in 3-point percentage defense. ... Cousins had five assists in the first half. ... Outrebounded Creighton 26-19 in the second half. ... Committed just 10 turnovers.
UP NEXT
Creighton: Hosts North Texas on Monday.
Oklahoma: Plays Washington State in the Diamond Head Classic.
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