OU, Villanova to Meet in Big 12-BIG EAST Battle Saturday

NORMAN – Oklahoma and Villanova clash on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 11:30 a.m. (CT) at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle.

Saturday's game against the Wildcats will be broadcast on CBS with Tom McCarthy, Bill Raftery and Jon Rothstein on the call. Fans may also listen on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing.

Villanova holds the 3-2 series advantages and the two programs last met during the 2015-16 season, splitting the two contests.

OU is fresh off its ESPN Events Invitational championship, beating Nebraska, Seton Hall and Ole Miss in Kissimmee, Fla. The Sooners beat Ole Miss 59-55 on Sunday, Nov. 27 to earn its first regular season tournament title since the 2015 Diamond Head Classic.

Grant Sherfield led the Sooners with 12 points and five assists. Sam Godwin recorded 11 points and a team-high six rebounds and Tanner Groves and Bijan Cortes scored 10 points apiece.

ON THE AIR

Saturday's game will be televised on CBS with Tom McCarthy, Bill Raftery and Jon Rothstein on the call.

The contest is scheduled to tip at 11:30 a.m. CT and will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

Kyle Neptune is in his first season as Villanova head coach. The Wildcats opened the season with two victories in their first three games, earning wins against La Salle and Delaware State. VU enters the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle on a four-game losing streak. The Wildcats are sixth in NCAA Division I in free throw percentage (81.7%) and 11th in turnovers per game (9.6).
Eric Dixon is the team leader in points (17.6) and rebounds (6.6) per contest. Caleb Daniels adds 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Brandon Slater adds 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Dixon, Daniels, Slater, Jordan Longino and Chris Arcidiacono have started each game this season.

LAST MEETING: Villanova

Oklahoma advanced to its fifth Final Four in program history and fell to Villanova 95-51 on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Jordan Woodard led the Sooners with 12 points and two assists. Buddy Hield recorded a team-best seven boards and added nine points.
Villanova finished the contest 35 of 49 from the field (71.4%) and 11 of 18 from three (61.1%). The Sooners tallied 60 shot attempts but made 19 (31.7%). Six wildcats finished with double-figure points.

LAST TIME OUT: Oklahoma 59, Ole Miss 55

Oklahoma held Ole Miss scoreless the final four minutes and finished the contest on a 7-0 run to earn the 59-55 victory in the ESPN Events Invitational championship game.
Grant Sherfield led the Sooners on offense for the second consecutive contest, scoring 12 points and dishing out five assists. Sam Godwin grabbed a team-high six boards to go with 11 points off the bench. Tanner Groves added 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. The Sooners shot 50.0% or greater for the third straight game and finished the contest with a season-best 53.5% (23-43) from the field.
With 4:26 remaining, Ole Miss' Burns slammed home a fast break dunk to give the Rebels a three-point advantage (55-52). It would be Ole Miss' last basket of the contest. OU's Bijan Cortes made back-to-back layups and Jalen Hill made the final field goal for the Sooner, giving Oklahoma a three point edge. Groves hit 1 of 2 free throws with 22 seconds left.

2022 ESPN EVENTS INVITATIONAL

Oklahoma earned three victories in four days and was crowned ESPN Events Invitational champions. The Sooners opened the tournament with a 69-56 victory over former Big 12 foe Nebraska. OU advanced to the championship game with a 77-64 victory over Seton Hall. Oklahoma earned the title after its 59-55 victory over Ole Miss, holding the Rebels scoreless the final four minutes.
Grant Sherfield was named tournament MVP. Sherfield averaged 15.7 points, 5.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He played a team-high 35.1 minutes per contest and shot 41.5% (17-41) from the field and 50.0% from three (7-14).
Oklahoma earned its first regular season tournament crown since the Sooners won the 2015 Diamond Head Classic. OU earned victories over Washington State (88-60), Hawai'i (84-81) and Harvard (83-71). Buddy Hield was named to the all-tournament team.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma hosts Kansas City on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., at Lloyd Noble Center.