NORMAN — OU men’s basketball is 3-0 for the sixth time in the last 10 seasons.
The Sooners defeated Stetson 85-64 Saturday afternoon at the Lloyd Noble Center, earning coach Porter Moser his 350th career victory. OU is 25-3 in home nonconference games under Moser.
The Sooners forced 23 turnovers in their win and scored 31 points off turnovers.
Here are three takeaways from OU’s win:
Jalon Moore dunk party powers Sooners
The Sooners started slow again Saturday, trailing Stetson 19-16 with 11:57 remaining in the first half.
Then Jalon Moore took flight.
Moore put Hatters forward Treyton Thompson on a poster before slamming two consecutive fast-break dunks, including an emphatic windmill.
Following Moore’s dunk party, OU led a 28-9 run to end the first half. Moore finished with 21 points on 9 for 14 shooting and five rebounds.
With his performance, Moore became the first Sooner to start a season with three consecutive 20-point games since Buddy Hield in 2016. Moore was the first Sooner to open a season with back to back 20-plus games since Christian James in 2018.
Sooners lead 16-0 second-half run
Despite holding a 16-point lead at halftime, OU allowed Stetson back in it to begin the second half.
With 12:51 remaining the Sooners led by just eight. However, OU led a 16-0 run across five minutes to put the game away in the second half.
The Sooners forced eight Hatter turnovers during the run.
OU shot 41.7% from the field in the second half.
The Kobe Elvis show
Kobe Elvis couldn’t miss in the first half.
Elvis started 8 for 8 from the field and 3 for 3 from 3. To open his second half scoring, Elvis knocked down a stepback 3.
The Dayton transfer finished with 24 points and shot 9 for 15 from the field and 4 for 8 from 3. Elvis’ career-high is 27.
The fifth-year senior from Brampton, Ontario, played one season at DePaul and three at Dayton. Elvis brings experience having started 87 career games and has quickly become one of OU’s leaders.
Elvis’ 3-point onslaught was needed Saturday with the Sooners still missing sharpshooters Brycen Goodine (ankle) and Jadon Jones (back).
OU shot 38% from deep.
Next, OU hosts East Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Thursday before it heads to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted to change the name of Texas A&M University-Commerce to East Texas A&M University during its quarterly meeting on Nov. 7.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU basketball routs Stetson as Jalon Moore keeps Sooners undefeated
