Sooners Fall To Global Sports By Two

Nov. 11, 2000

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NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma men's basketball team saw its 26-game exhibition winning streak snapped Saturday night in an 80-78 defeat to Global Sports at Lloyd Noble Center. It was OU's first preseason loss since 1986.

Senior guard Kelley Newton and junior forward Aaron McGhee both scored 21 points, but their contributions were not enough as Global Sports outscored OU 53-47 in the second half. Global Sports, now 6-3 on its exhibition tour, shot .640 from the field and .636 from three-point land after halftime en route to .560 and .600 respective game marks.

Former Alabama forward Jamal Faulkner, who scored 26 points versus Iowa State Wednesday, paced Global Sports with 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting, including a 3-for-3 effort from long range, before fouling out. He also grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Former Missouri forward Albert White scored 15 points while guard Michael Nurse, a member of Iowa State's Big 12 championship team last year, added 12 points.

McGhee also grabbed 13 rebounds and recorded four blocked shots, both game highs. The former first-team junior college All-American was 11-for-12 (.917) from the free throw line while the rest of the team was just 11-for-21 (.524).

Sophomore guard Hollis Price was the only other Sooner to score in double digits with 11 points. He also registered a game-high six assists and committed just one turnover.

"I think it was a good test for us to play a good team," said OU Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. "Obviously, we're not as good yet as we're going to be this season. We did make some improvements tonight. We took five or six charges and I thought that was outstanding. Every team we play early in the season will be a challenge until we become a good basketball team. I think we will be, we're just not there yet."

OU's last exhibition loss, a 102-74 decision versus the Soviet national team in 1986, came under former Sooner head coach Billy Tubbs.

Oklahoma opens its regular season Friday, Nov. 17 at approximately 8:15 p.m. in the second game of the Sooner Invitational versus Alcorn State at Lloyd Noble Center. La Salle and UNC Wilmington, an NCAA Tournament participant last season, will square off in the first game at 6 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be played Saturday at 6 and approximately 8:15 p.m., respectively.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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