Pack, Davis propel Sooners to huge win over Marquette in Chicago

The Sooners already had two conference losses and with four straight high major opponents coming up, they could not afford to drop this one to Marquette in Porter Moser’s return to Chicago.

For a large portion of this game, things did not look good for Oklahoma. The Sooners trailed 50-38 with 13 minutes left in the second half. The defense was bad and Oklahoma needed someone to step up outside of Nijel Pack, who was incredible again.

Then a switch flipped for Tae Davis, and when that happened the entire game changed. Davis has not had the best start to the season and at times has been non-existent out there, but that completely shifted in the second half. This was the version of Davis Oklahoma expected to have. He pulled Oklahoma back into the game and even helped push the Sooners to an eight point lead with two minutes to go.

Marquette fought back and tied it with 58 seconds left. Then Derrion Reid, who has struggled from deep this season, drilled a three pointer to give Oklahoma a 75-72 lead with 35 seconds remaining. It was his second made three of the game. Davis then delivered exceptional defense on the final possession, forcing a tough shot from Marquette’s Chase Ross and sealing a 75-74 win for Oklahoma. A massive win in Chicago.

Here are a few takeaways.

Nijel Pack is good at basketball

It is incredible what Oklahoma is getting from Pack. He had 24 points and three assists on an incredibly efficient 9-14 from the field and 5-7 from behind the arc. He kept Oklahoma within striking distance and hit big shots late.

Pack is averaging 19.5 points on 55.8 percent shooting from three on 8.7 attempts per game through seven games. The level of play he has brought to Oklahoma is special.

A major issue today was the complete lack of help from his backcourt partners. Xzayvier Brown and Dayton Forsythe combined for zero points on a combined 0-15 shooting from the field. Brown was 0-9 and Forsythe was 0-6.

Tae Davis flipped a switch

This was the Davis Oklahoma has been missing. The scoring. The defense. The effort and intensity. All of it. Davis finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and a block on 8-9 shooting from the field and 3-3 from the free throw line.

When Davis ignited, the whole team ignited. He became an offensive hub and essentially a point forward in the second half. You have to hope this was a turning point and that he is officially out of the slump he started the season in. A very good sign for Oklahoma.

Derrion Reid and Jeff Nwankwo stepped up

Reid was the only player giving Pack scoring help in the first half. He finished with 15 points, a steal, and a block on 6-10 shooting and 2-3 from deep. He looked way more aggressive offensively and shot it well. Both are encouraging.

Nwankwo had easily his best game of the season. He drilled three threes in 18 minutes after making only two in the first six games combined. He finished with 11 points on 4-7 shooting and 3-5 from deep.

Oklahoma will next take the court against Wake Forest on Tuesday, December 2 at 6:00 pm on ACC Network. That one will be a true road game for the Sooners.

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