Oklahoma needed to overcome a slow start to hold off Northwestern State at home on Monday.

The Demons, who went 9-23 last season and were picked to finish ninth in the Southland Conference this season, took a six-point lead into halftime. The Sooners trailed by as many as eight before closing the game on a 43-21 run.

A big second half from Jalon Moore helped the Sooners improve to 2-0 with a 73-57 win.

The Sooners shot 54% from the field in the second half and had seven steals, which they turned into 17 points on the other end. The Sooners took their first lead of the second half with just over 14 minutes remaining on a three-point-play by freshman Jeremiah Fears.

Moore proceeded to score 13 of the team’s next 15 points to extend the Sooners’ lead to double digits.

The Sooners will be back in action at the Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday to face Stetson at 1 p.m.

Here are three takeaways from Oklahoma’s win over Northwestern State:

1. Starting slow

Oklahoma didn’t have a single player finish in double figures in the first half. The Sooners opened up the game missing each of their first six shots.

They were able to lean on their defense and hold the Demons to just two baskets during that span (4:01). Still, while the Sooners’ shooting struggles continued throughout the first half, the Demons started to catch fire and took control of the game early.

Duke Miles led the Sooners in scoring in the first half with seven points on 3-7 shooting.

Meanwhile, the Demons shot 58% from the field in the first half, but had 10 turnovers, which the Sooners converted into 15 points.

2. Fears and Moore take over

Moore had just four points in the first half before finishing with 23 points to match his career best. He knocked down two 3-pointers and was 7-8 from the free throw line down the stretch.

The 6-7 senior scored 22 in the season opener against Lindenwood.

Meanwhile Fears went 4-7 from the field in the second half to finish the game with 15 points and four steals. The highly-touted freshman had six turnovers, but only had two in the second half.

The Sooners only had 10 assists as a team and went 6-21 from behind the arc.

3. Missing outside shooting

Oklahoma played without one of its top outside shooters in Brycen Goodine and finished with just six makes from deep. The Sooners shot 29% from deep after shooting 41% in the season opener against Lindenwood.

Goodine was 3-6 from outside in that game, but was forced to miss Monday’s game due to an ankle injury.

Transfer senior Glenn Taylor Jr. made his first start with the program in Goodine’s place.