Box Score NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma's experience in tight games was pivotal Friday night as the Sooners scrapped back from a six-point deficit in the final five minutes, rallying by visiting Northwestern State 69-65.
 
The Sooners (6-1), who played in their fourth game decided in the final minute, survived a battle that had 14 ties and 10 lead changes, the last on a 3-pointer by Je'lon Hornbeak with 2:12 remaining. That was the cornerstone of nine unanswered points over nearly five minutes to bring OU from a 63-57 deficit into a 66-63 lead with 54 seconds left.
 
The Demons (3-3) had a game-tying 3-point bid from Jalan West pop in and out with seven seconds left. Hornbeak rebounded the miss, was fouled and hit a clinching free throw with 4.8 seconds left for a two-possession 69-65 edge.
 
“I have to credit our guys for the way they fought this down to the final buzzer. You have to give OU credit for making more plays in the last three minutes to come back and win the game. It's a bitter loss for us but a great learning experience,” said Demons coach Mike McConathy.
 
West, with 13 points, and Shamir Davis with 10 topped NSU, which got scoring from all 10 players as each played at least 15 minutes. Romero Osby's 11 points led Oklahoma.
 
Nearly every team statistic was virtually even, save for turnovers (17 by NSU, to 13 by OU) and free throws (NSU went 15-18 at the line, OU was 20-28). The Sooners outscored the Demons 19-9 in points off turnovers and Northwestern was hit for 22 fouls compared to 14 for Oklahoma.
 
“All 10 of our guys made plays to give us a real chance to win this. We made some great plays coming down the stretch, but we also made some critical mistakes, and Oklahoma's defense made it very difficult for us,” said McConathy.
 
Northwestern missed its last 10 shots from the floor in the closing five minutes while Oklahoma went 3-of-6 on shots and sank 5-of-6 free throws in a game-ending 10-2 run. A tip in by Brison White with 28 seconds left got the Demons within 66-65, but after the Sooners needed three tries and two timeouts to inbound the basketball, Steven Pledger sank two free throws with 17 seconds left to push OU ahead 68-65.
 
West, who drained three of four 3-pointers from deep range during the second half, nearly sank another as NSU tried to force overtime, but the ball dipped in and popped out with seven seconds left.
 
The outcome gave Sooners' coach Lon Krueger his 500^th career collegiate coaching win and was the third straight defeat for NSU.
 
The Demons, after road losses at LSU, Texas A&M and Oklahoma in the past 10 days, return home Tuesday night to play Louisiana Tech in the second half of a doubleheader at Prather Coliseum. The twinbill starts with a 5:30 women's game between the Lady Demons and Prairie View, followed by the Demons and Bulldogs approximately two hours later.