Norman, Okla. ? Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel went with a whole new look in the second half: a totally different starting five and more casual attire.
Capel’s move to bench his starters worked, as transfer point guard Omar Leary scored 14 points to lead a dominant effort by the Sooners’ second unit in an 80-50 victory against Denver on Friday night in the second round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.
The reason for ditching his suit coat and tie at halftime? Well, that’s another story.
“What happens in the locker room pretty much stays in the locker room,” Leary said. “But we had some heart-to-hearts at halftime, and we came out with some energy that was much-needed in the second half.”
Freshman Blake Griffin scored 15 points in a performance that left him dissatisfied, and Tony Crocker added 12 on four 3-pointers, but the starters weren’t the reason the Sooners (2-0) moved on to face No. 3 Memphis in the semifinals next week at Madison Square Garden.
In fact, they watched from the bench as Oklahoma built its lead and played its best basketball.
The reserves gave the Sooners control of the game in the first half, and Capel rewarded them by putting them out on the floor to start the second half. He also ditched his brown suit coat, white button-up shirt and tie and came out in a white polo shirt instead.
No. 16 Texas A&M 73, McNeese State 50
College Station, Texas – Mark Turgeon was so concerned about the Aggies’ progress he didn’t have time to get worked up about his first game at Texas A&M.
He allowed himself a moment to celebrate after he picked up his first victory, though.
“We will enjoy it tonight,” he said. “Then we’ll wake up and get back to work tomorrow.”
Freshman DeAndre Jordan scored 12 points, and Josh Carter had 14 to lead the Aggies to their eighth straight victory in a home opener.
Turgeon, who came to Texas A&M from Wichita State, took over in April after Billy Gillispie left for Kentucky.
Oklahoma State 104, Prairie View 48
Stillwater, Okla. – James Anderson scored 29 points in his Oklahoma State debut as the Cowboys rolled.
Anderson’s point total matched the school record for a freshman, tying Byron Houston, who scored 29 points against Kansas State on Jan. 25, 1989.
Anderson broke the record for the most points by a player making his Oklahoma State debut, as Amos Thomas had 27 points against Arkansas in his first game as a sophomore on Dec. 3, 1968.
Oklahoma State’s 56-point margin of victory matched the eighth-largest in school history, and the Cowboys’ 18 steals matched the second-highest total in school history. It was the 39th time in school history the Cowboys scored 100 or more points.
New Mexico 54, Colorado 47
Boulder, Colo. – This was the debut Steve Alford craved and Jeff Bzdelik feared.
Freshman Jonathan Wills scored 13 points, and J.R. Giddens sank a backbreaking basket with 33 seconds left for New Mexico in a matchup of coaches making their debuts with new teams after successful stints at other schools.
Iowa State 58, Winston-Salem State 44
Ames, Iowa – Craig Brackins made his college debut with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and fellow freshman Diante Garrett added 11 points, leading Iowa State.
Rahshon Clark and reserve Cory Johnson each scored 10 points for Iowa State.