Oklahoma hangs on to beat Providence 79-77 in wild finish at Battle 4 Atlantis

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In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears (0) drives to the basket against Providence guard Wesley Cardet Jr. (0) during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

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In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Providence guard Wesley Cardet Jr. (0) drives against Oklahoma guard Duke Miles (15) during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

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In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Providence guard Jayden Pierre tries to get through Oklahoma defenders forward Luke Northweather (45) and Jalon Moore (14) during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

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In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears (0) shoots against Providence during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

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In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Providence forward Ryan Mela, center, tries to get past Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears, left, during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

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In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Providence guard Corey Floyd Jr. (14) drives against Oklahoma guard Brycen Goodine during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

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In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Oklahoma coach Porter Moser talks to Oklahoma guard Duke Miles as assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer looks on during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

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In this handout provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Oklahoma guard Duke Miles (15) drives to the basket against Providence forward Oswin Erhunmwunse (55) during an NCAA college basketball game at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Kobe Elvis scored 26 points, Jeremiah Fears added 20 and Oklahoma held on to beat Providence 79-77 in a odd finish at the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Sooners (5-0) will take No. 24 Arizona, a 104-71 winner over Davidson, which will play Providence (5-1).

Elvis was 10-of-14 shooting while Fears, a freshman, was 12 of 14 at the line and had seven assists and four of the Sooners’ 12 steals but also eight turnovers. The Sooners shot 51%.

Wesley Cardet Jr. scored 17 points, Jayden Pierre and Bensley Joseph 16 each and Corey Floyd Jr. 13 for the Friars, who shot 43%.

When Duke Miles scored on a transition layup, the Sooners had a nine-point lead with 44 seconds left. But missed Sooners free throws and a traveling call allowed the Friars to rally and get within two. Elvis made two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to seemingly clinch the win. But Oklahoma was called for a technical foul for having too many players on the court when a Sooner apparently entered the court as play was going on before being officially subbed in. Pierre made both technical free throws and Providence took possession in the backcourt. Pierre got off about a 25-footer that went off the back of the rim as time expired.

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Oklahoma took the lead for good midway through the second half on consecutive 3-pointers by Luke Northweather.

Providence led 34-32 at halftime behind 11 points from Cardet. Floyd and Cardet hit back-to-back 3s to give the Friars the lead midway through the half and they kept it for the rest of the period.

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