NORMAN, Okla. - Stephen Curry scored a career-high 44 points, but the No. 21 Davidson basketball team fell 82-78 at No. 12 Oklahoma Tuesday night in the second round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off.
Curry was 12-of-29 from the field, 6-of-15 from 3-point range and 14-for-14 from the free-throw line. Andrew Lovedale added 10 points for the Wildcats (2-1).
Blake Griffin led the Sooners (3-0) with 25 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, while Willie Warren scored 20 points, and Taylor Griffin added 16.
The Wildcats trailed by 21 with 13 minutes to go and by 15 with 5:36 left, but a 13-4 run, capped by a Brendan McKillop 3-pointer from the corner, cut the margin to 79-73 with 1:41 remaining.
The 'Cats got a stop on Oklahoma's next trip down the floor, and Curry's 3-pointer made it a one-possession game. Tony Crocker missed a 3-pointer from the corner, but Blake Griffin grabbed his 21st rebound of the night, forcing Davidson to foul with 23 seconds to play.
Cade Davis hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to five points. Curry answered with two free throws with 16 seconds left, but the Wildcats were forced to foul again. Davis went 1-for-2 from the line, and Taylor Griffin got a steal on Davidson's next offensive possession to seal the victory.
The Wildcats are back in action Friday when they host Winthrop at John M. Belk Arena.
Game Notes: Curry's point total was the fifth-highest in a single game in school history... Curry has scored 25 or more points in his last seven games, dating back to last season; it was the third time in his career he's scored 40 or more... It was the first game between Oklahoma and Davidson.