Northwestern Drops Road Contest at Oklahoma

12/22/2017 8:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Box Score (PDF)

NORMAN, Okla. -- Dererk Pardon scored a team-high 17 points with nine rebounds but Northwestern was unable to withstand a first-half scoring barrage by No. 17/17 Oklahoma Friday night, falling 104-78 at Lloyd Noble Center.

The contest got off to a less-than-ideal start for the Wildcats as seven straight points by the hosts over the opening 72 seconds of play caused NU to burn an early timeout.

However, a pair of 3-pointers by Jordan Ash and a dunk by Pardon allowed Northwestern to close to within 10-8. The Sooners could not be slowed down from behind the arch, though, as the hosts made each of their first six triples and started 9-of-10 from the field overall.

OU's Trae Young, the nation's leading scorer, sparked the host by tallying 12 quick points, including hitting three consecutive 3-pointers, during the outburst. Pardon kept NU within striking distance with 8 points.

Oklahoma simply could not be slowed down as the nation's leading scoring team connected on an incredible 14 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes of play in opening up an insurmountable lead.

Pardon paced the Wildcats with 10 first-half points.

Five Wildcats finished in double figures, including Ash, who scored a career-high 11 points.

Northwestern outscored Oklahoma, 40-36, in the second half.

Northwestern returns from a holiday break Saturday, Dec. 30 when it hosts Brown at Allstate Arena. Tip time is set for 11 a.m. It is Take a Kid to a Game Day with two children middle school or younger admitted free of charge with each paid adult admission.

Northwestern Notes vs. Oklahoma – Dec. 22, 2017
• This was the first meeting between Northwestern and Oklahoma.
• Senior guard Bryant McIntosh made both of his free throws attempts and is now 29 of 30 from the charity stripe this season (.967).
• Dererk Pardon led Northwestern in scoring for the second time this season and the third time in his career. He finished three points shy of his season high point total of 20 achieved at Purdue Dec. 3.
• Junior Jordan Ash finished with a career-high 11 points.
• Redshirt junior forward Vic Law missed his second consecutive game due to injury.