Game Statistics 

NORMAN, Okla. – North Carolina Central University led the Oklahoma Sooners for more than 28 straight minutes, including all of the second half until a game-tying three-pointer by OU with 15 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime. The Eagles’ bid for an upset and their first road win in two years slipped away in the extra session, as the Sooners held on to a 71-63 overtime victory on Monday (Nov. 15) night in Norman, Okla.

NCCU junior transfer Landon Clement hit 6-of-9 from long distance to lead the Eagles with 22 points. Senior guard #C.J. Wilkerson added 16 points and junior forward Nick Chasten# contributed 13 points and six rebounds in the heart-breaking setback for the Eagles.

NCCU took an 18-17 lead with a three-pointer by Wilkerson at the 8:38 mark of the first half. The Eagles pushed the advantage to as much as eight points when Clement knocked down a triple to make the score 33-25 with 3:32 left before intermission.

OU’s Cameron Clark made a layup with five seconds before the break to cut NCCU’s halftime cushion to 35-32.

Midway through the second half, NCCU scored five unanswered points, including another long-range bomb by Clement to push the lead to 52-46 at 9:45.

The Eagles were clinging to a four-point margin when Steven Pledger connected on a three-point field goal with 1:09 left to make the score 56-55 in favor of the visitors.

A pair of free throws by Wilkerson with 32 seconds on the clock gave NCCU a 58-55 lead. After a 30-second timeout by OU head coach Jeff Capel with 28 ticks left, the Sooners came away with the loose ball from a pile of players on the floor, and Pledger stepped up to nail the game-tying three-pointer with 15 seconds left in regulation.

A last-second shot by Wilkerson was rejected at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

OU’s Nick Thompson bulled his way down low for the first four points of the extra session and the Sooners never looked back.

“We were right there,” said NCCU head coach LeVelle Moton. “I don’t think our kids recovered emotionally from that last shot of regulation. They were stuck on that play instead of moving forward. They are all very emotional in the locker room.”

OU was paced by Andrew Fitzgerald with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Pledger finished with 14 points.

NCCU shot a blistering 62 percent from the field in the first half on 13-of-21 shooting, including 5-of-8 from behind the arch, but the Eagles cooled in the second half by making just 7-of-21 from the floor, then only 2-of-8 in overtime.

At the free throw line, NCCU made only 11 of its 17 attempts (65 percent), while OU converted 23-of-27 (85 percent). The Eagles also committed 20 turnovers resulting in 19 points for the Sooners.

“We just didn’t capitalize on some loose balls and we missed some key free throws,” Moton said. “We have to use this as a learning experience to make us better.”

NCCU returns to action on Friday, Nov. 19 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.