NORMAN, Okla. _ The sixth-ranked team in the nation played like it Thursday night as the Oklahoma Sooners rolled past the University of Central Arkansas Bears 111-68 at the Lloyd Noble Center.

    The Sooners (5-0), UCA's first ranked opponent since 2012, shot 52.2 percent from the field, including a stellar 13 of 22 from three-point range (59.1 percent). Junior point guard Jordan Woodard did most of the damage from beyond the arc, hitting 6 of 7 and and tying his season high with 24 points.

    "We knew Oklahoma was very, very good,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "I told the team at practice yesterday that I thought they had the potential to be a Final Four team, and I still do after tonight's game. Coach (Lon) Kruger and his staff have put together an outstanding basketball team here. I think if they stay healthy and hungry, which it appears they are, I think they will make a deep, deep run into March.

    "I hope they get to the Final Four because it might validate this game a little bit more for us.' 

    The Bears opened the game with a Jordan Howard three-pointer and stayed close to the Sooners for the first five minutes before a five-minute scoring drought gave OU the upper hand for good. By the time UCA's Derreck Brooks made a three-pointer at the 9:45 mark, the Bears trailed 24-10. 

    In the final 10 minutes of the first half, the Bears battled foul trouble. UCA finished the first half with 18 fouls, including three each on Brooks, Justin Foreman and Boo Milligan. The Sooners were 20 of 26 from the free-throw line while the Bears were just 2 of 7.

    Any chance of a second-half comeback for the Bears was thwarted by the red-hot Woodard, who nailed six consecutive three-pointers that pushed the Sooners' lead to 50-plus points midway through the half. Woodard entered the game with five three-pointers on the season, and a career high of 3 three-pointers in a game. The Sooners were 11 of 13 from three-point range in the second half.

    "Woodard doesn't usually hit that many like that,' Pennell said, "but good basketball players get on a roll and that basket starts looking awfully big. When a team gets hot like that, you can have a hand in their face and they don't even see that you're there. Back-to-back-to-back, he was feeling it. He's an awfully good player but he's usually the one setting others up. 

    "That's why I think when you have the potential in him along with all the other guys, my gosh, that's a lot of firepower.'

    Senior guard Buddy Hield, the Big 12's leading scorer and ranked 18th nationally, finished with 19 points but was just 4 of 12 from the field, but 9 of 11 from the free-throw line. Seven Sooners finished in double figures, with Isaiah Cousins getting 16 points and 11 rebounds. OU outrebounded UCA 54-29, including 15 on the offensive end.

    UCA sophomore guard Jordan Howard connected on four three-pointers and scored 16 points. Senior center Jake Zuilhof battled the much-larger Sooners all night, finishing with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Junior guard Derreck Brooks had 13 points, with a pair of three-pointers, while true freshman Tanner Schmit was 4 of 4 from the field and added 10 points.

    "When I took Jake out, I told him that's what I expect from him,' said Pennell. "I thought he played really well. I thought he played hard and didn't back down. Eleven and six, we'll take that from him almost every night.'    

    UCA continues its road trip on Sunday, taking on the Pittsburgh Panthers at 11 a.m. (CT) from the Petersen Events Center.