NORMAN, Okla. — Jalon Moore was instrumental in securing a victory for No. 12 Oklahoma, as he totaled 22 points with 16 coming in the second half. Freshman sensation Jeremiah Fears contributed 19 points of his own, leading the Sooners to a comfortable 89-67 win over Prairie View on Sunday. With this win, Oklahoma remains one of the four undefeated teams in Division I men’s basketball, improving their record to 13-0.
Despite frequent attempts to reduce the deficit, Prairie View was only able to close the gap to eight points during the second half. Ultimately, the Sooners established a lead of over 20 points in the final moments of the game, showcasing their dominance.
The Sooners had a solid 43-32 advantage at halftime, despite a significant scoring drought, not making a single field goal in the last 10 minutes of the half. Oklahoma compensated for this by converting 18 of their 19 free-throw attempts during that same period.
Duke Miles showcased an impressive performance, going a perfect 7 for 7 from the free-throw line, and made both of his field goal attempts, included two 3-pointers, totaling 17 points, with 13 scored in the first half.
Jeremiah Fears, previously named SEC freshman of the week twice this season, surpassed his scoring average, connecting on 7 of 11 shots.
This game marked the 12th consecutive loss for Prairie View, who now holds a record of 1-12, with their sole victory against a non-NCAA opponent. Tanahj Pettaway led the Panthers in scoring with 22 points, while Marcel Bryant contributed 14.
In this matchup, Oklahoma often struggled to completely distance themselves from the Panthers, despite building double-digit leads multiple times. Prairie View is set to return home for the first time in two months, after enduring a tough stretch of 12 consecutive road games.
A crucial moment came when Prairie View reduced Oklahoma’s lead to nine points with eight minutes remaining. However, Moore ignited a strong finish for the Sooners, ending the game with a 22-9 run to secure the win.
Key statistics revealed that Oklahoma was notably proficient at the free-throw line, making 32 out of 35 attempts, while Prairie View managed only 5 out of 7.
Looking ahead, the Sooners will kick off the New Year and the SEC season with a challenging game against Alabama on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Prairie View will host Grambling for their SWAC opener on the same day.
