Men's Hoops Concludes Non-Conference Slate Against Monmouth

NORMAN – No. 12/13 Oklahoma men's basketball hosts Monmouth on Sunday, Dec. 31. Tip is at 2:01 p.m. CT inside Lloyd Noble Center. The non-conference contest 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 and be broadcast by ESPN+ with Chad McKee (PxP) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) on the call.

Oklahoma vs. Monmouth
Date: Sunday, Dec. 31
Tip Time: 2:01 p.m.
Location: Norman
Arena: Lloyd Noble Center
(Lloyd Noble Center doors open one hour prior to tip)

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FOR THE FANS

University of Oklahoma students can attend all 2023-24 men's basketball games for free. Students will need to show their ID at the lower north entrance at Lloyd Noble Center. Fans can purchase tickets for as low as $5 via SoonerSports.com/23Holiday.

OPENING TIP

• Oklahoma is ranked 27th (games through 12/28) overall and sixth in the Big 12 in the NET. Eight Big 12 teams are in the top 50. Monmouth is 180th overall and seventh in the CAA.

•  Junior Javian McCollum ranks seventh among NCAA DI active career leaders in free throw percentage (88.6%). In 63 career games, McCollum has made 156 free throws in 176 attempts.

•  Senior Le'Tre Darthard recorded his 1,000th NCAA DI career point against Central Arkansas. Darthard tallied 913 points in three seasons at Utah Valley, including 509 points during the 2022-23 campaign.

•  Oklahoma earned its 11th victory of the season against Central Arkansas on Thursday, Dec. 28. McCollum led the Sooners with a season-high 23 points on 9-for-17 shooting. The Fort Myers, Fla., product tallied a season-best five made triples.

•  OU's 10-0 start is tied with the 1991-92 and 2003-04 seasons for the seventh-best start in program history.

LAST TIME OUT

•  Oklahoma continued its dominance at home, improving to 8-0 in Norman with an 88-72 victory over Central Arkansas on Thursday, Dec. 28. Junior Javian McCollum scored a season-high 23 points and buried five 3-pointers. Sophomore Otega Oweh added 16 points and four rebounds. Senior Sam Godwin tallied 14 points and seven boards. Junior Jalon Moore tallied 12 points and a team-best nine rebounds. OU received a much-needed spark in the second half from senior Le'Tre Darthard, who finished with eight points and a team-high five assists.

•  Oklahoma led for 30-plus minutes in the non-conference clash. Down 30-29 after a fastbreak dunk by UCA's Glory Etim, Oklahoma regained the advantage after a pair of free throws by Moore. Moore gave the Sooners a three-point edge after a putback slam, but the Bears responded with another 3-pointer. After a pair of Godwin free throws, Oklahoma never relinquished the lead.

•  The Sooners shot 51.7% (31-60) from the floor, 45.5% (10-22) from deep and 72.7% (16-22) from the line. Oklahoma forced 17 turnovers, converting the missed opportunities into 20 points.

AP POLL APPEARANCES

• Oklahoma has appeared in the AP Poll 380 times (29.9%), ranking 22nd all-time. Since the 1984 season, the Sooners have appeared in 48.2% (360 times) of AP Polls and have an average rank of 12.2. OU has been ranked in the top 15 of the AP Poll for three consecutive weeks, marking the first time since a four-week stretch during the 2020-21 season.

RANKING SUMMARY (12/29)

• Oklahoma ranks in the top 50 nationally in nine categories. The Sooners are ninth in scoring margin (19.6 PPG), 14th in field goal percentage (50.2%), 19th in three-point percentage defense (27.6%), 21st in effective field goal percentage (56.8%), 24th in rebound margin (9.1 RPG), 27th in field goal percentage defense (38.8%), 30th in free throw percentage (76.4%), 34th in scoring defense (63.8 PPG) and 34th in scoring offense (83.4 PPG).

• Otega Oweh is 11th in NCAA DI and first in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (65.5%), 31st in steals (27), and 35th in steals per game (2.3). Sam Godwin is 14th nationally and first in the conference in offensive rebounds per game (3.7 RPG).

FATHER-SON DUO

• Oklahoma and Monmouth are two of 27 NCAA DI programs whose head coach has a son on the team. OU head coach Porter Moser and junior guard Jake Moser will compete against MU head coach King Rice and graduate guard Xander Rice. Xander Rice attended Bucknell the previous four seasons before transferring to Monmouth for the 2023-24 campaign.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

• Oklahoma holds a 72-25 record at Lloyd Noble Center since 2017. The Sooners have won 82.9% (605-125) of their games at LNC since the building opened in 1975. OU's winning percentage at Lloyd Noble Center is second in the Big 12 only to Kansas' 87.9% at Allen Fieldhouse (851-117).

UP NEXT

Oklahoma opens Big 12 play against Iowa State on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 5 p.m., inside Lloyd Noble Center.