OU, UCA Set for Saturday Clash at Lloyd Noble Center

NORMAN – Oklahoma (7-3, 0-0 Big 12) welcomes Central Arkansas (5-5, 0-0 ASUN) to Lloyd Noble Center for a 2 p.m. (CT) matchup on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Saturday's game against the Bears will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Chad McKee and Pooh Williamson 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.

The Sooners have won the two previous meetings with the Bears. In the last outing between the two programs, Oklahoma earned the 111-68 victory and seven Sooners recorded double-figure points.

OU last battled then-No. 9/8 Arkansas on Saturday, Dec. 10. Grant Sherfield led the Sooners with 23 points and added three steals, three assists and two boards. Milos Uzan earned his second straight start and scored a season-high 15 points.

Sherfield was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after his performances against the Razorbacks and Kansas City.

ON THE AIR
Saturday's game will be televised on ESPN+ with Chad McKee and Pooh Williamson on the call.

The contest is scheduled to tip at 2 p.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 BEARS

Anthony Boone is in his fourth season as Central Arkansas head coach. He has compiled a 30-56 (.349) record and has led the Bears to a 5-5 mark to open the 2022-23 season. In its last outing, UCA fell to Oral Roberts 111-78. The Bears are 2-2 in their last four game, including a 85-70 loss to Loyola Chicago.
A trio of Bears average double-figure points. Camren Hunter boasts team highs in minutes (33.3) points (16.8) and assists (4.0) per game. Hunter was named ASUN Player of the Week on Dec. 12 and averaged 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals in two games. Eddy Kayouloud adds 15.4 points per game and has swiped a team-best 16 steals. Kayouloud and Masai Olowokere each record a team-high 6.2 boards per contest. Collin Cooper rounds out the group of double-digit scorers, adding 10.6 points per game. Hunter, Kayouloud, Olowokere have started all 10 games.
Central Arkansas is ranked 32nd nationally in offensive rebounds per game (13.1) and 34th in 3-point attempts per game (26.8). Hunter is 28th in the nation and first in the ASUN in field goal attempts (155).

LAST MEETING: Central Arkansas

Oklahoma passed the century mark and beat Central Arkansas 111-68 on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, at Lloyd Noble Center.
Jordan Woodard scored a team-high 24 points and finished 8 for 10 from the field and 6 of 7 from deep. In addition to Woodward, six additional Sooners scored double-figure points. Buddy Hield added 19, Isaiah Cousins 16 and Khadeem Lattin 12. Ryan Spangler, Christian James and Akolda Manyang each scored 11 points.
The Sooners shot 52.2% (36-69) from the field, 59.1% (13-22) from deep and 74.3% (26-35) from the free throw line. OU outrebounded UCA 54-29.

SHERFIELD NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK

Oklahoma point guard Grant Sherfield was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after his performances against Kansas City and No. 9/8 Arkansas, the conference office announced Monday.
The Fort Worth, Texas, product, averaged 23.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game and led the Sooners in points in the two outings. Sherfield shot 58.3% (14-24) from the field and 66.7% (8-12) from deep. He also logged a team-high 33.0 minutes per contest.
Against the Roos, Sherfield finished 6 for 10 from the field and 5 of 6 from deep en route to a team-high 24 points. He added four rebounds, two steals and one assist. In the Crimson and Cardinal Classic against No. 9/8 Arkansas, the senior guard recorded 23 points, three steals, three assists and two boards. It marked the third consecutive game that Sherfield scored 20-plus points.

UP NEXT
Oklahoma battles Florida in the inaugural Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 8:30 p.m. (CT).