Sooners Get Final Tune-Up For Big 12 Play At All-College Classic

Dec 28, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma tries to push its winning streak to nine games before heading into conference play as it meets Texas Southern on Saturday in the All-College Classic at The Myriad in Oklahoma City.

The 12th-ranked Sooners (9-1) are coming off their biggest win of the season, a 72-56 home victory over then-No. 2 Maryland on Dec. 21. Ebi Ere scored 19 points and Aaron McGhee added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Oklahoma, which has not lost since a second-round Preseason NIT loss to Michigan State on Nov. 14.

"We expected to win the game," Sooners coach Kelvin Sampson said. "People don't know how good our team is, and maybe we don't, either."

Ere and McGhee have formed an effective tandem for the Sooners, combining to average 30.2 points and 12.9 rebounds. Guard Hollis Price leads the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game and is shooting 45.3 percent (25-for-54) from 3-point range.

The Sooners start conference play Jan. 5 at home against Texas A&M.

Texas Southern (1-8) failed to build on its lone win of the season, suffering an 88-83 loss to Alcorn State on Monday. Steve Hoyer scored 19 points and Ra'kim Hollis added 15 for the Tigers, who allowed the Braves to shoot 52.4 percent from the field.

Defense has been a big problem for Texas Southern, which has allowed six of its nine opponents to score 80 or more points. Hollis and Hoyer are the team's primary offensive options, averaging 18.4 and 18.3 points, respectively.

The duo also has combined for 44 of Texas Southern's 58 3-pointers. The Tigers are 0-6 away from home, getting outscored by an average of 32 points.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Get Final Tune-Up For Big 12 Play At All-College Classic

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