Box Score NORMAN, Okla. – No. 18-ranked Oklahoma beat Northwestern State at its own game with superior performance in transition to get the upper hand ending the first half in a 90-68 college basketball victory Sunday, overshadowing a 26-point outing by Demons' sophomore Zeek Woodley.
 
The Sooners (2-1) hit 50 percent of their shots, including 10 of 21 on 3-pointers, with Isaiah Cousins scoring 20 to top four OU players in double figures. The Demons (2-2) were within 28-24 before the Sooners mounted a 22-6 run over the final 5:29 of the first half to take control.
 
NSU, which shot only 36 percent overall including 31 percent in the first half, fell back as far as 27 points before outscoring OU 24-9 and climbing within 12, 73-61, with 9:07 to play. The Demons missed a pair of 3-pointers, making only 7 of 31 overall, as the Sooners ran off nine unanswered points to regain command and never led by less than 17 afterward.
 
"The first 10-12 minutes were OK but they got into their transition game and were really, really good building a lead we could not overcome today," said 16^th-year NSU coach Mike McConathy. "We had a nice burst in the second half thanks largely to an adjustment that (assistant) coach Bill Lewit suggested, but we couldn't get all the way back. They have flow out of their transition game and that's where we have to get to offensively."
 
The Demons picked up their fourth straight double-figure scoring output by senior center Marvin Frazier, who had a season-best seven rebounds to go with his 11 points. Junior point guard Jalan West handed out eight assists and made five steals, but was able to get just 2-of-13 shots to fall and only got to the free throw line once after averaging 10 shots from the line in NSU's first three games.
 
"The games have been so much more physical this season after two years of officiating emphasis on reducing physical play," said McConathy. "Jalan normally gets to the free throw line several times a game. For whatever reasons today, he wound up with an unusually high number of missed shots and one free throw attempt. We'll learn from it."
 
Woodley added eight rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes, making 11 of 20 shots, including 1 of 5 on 3-pointers, and sinking 3 of 4 at the free throw line
 
"Zeek is a very unusual player, gifted with unbelievable touch and feel for the game, who competes so hard," said McConathy. "He's doing a tremendous job."
 
Despite the outcome, McConathy noted several stretches of improved play by the Demons, who got more solid performances from second wave players who did not start but subbed in as NSU continued its trademark five-in, five-out pattern.
 
"Some of those guys didn't stat out in a big way but they made contributions and steps forward today," he said. "We've got a lot of work to do to improve in a lot of areas, but it's part of the process and we are working at it. This is another step down that path."
 
NSU will travel to Lubbock, Texas, next for a Tuesday evening 7 p.m. visit to Texas Tech. The Demons come home Saturday to play host to Missouri Valley at 3 p.m. in Prather Coliseum, and entertain Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 6:30.