Sooners Cruise Past Coppin State, 67-44

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma defeated Coppin State, 67-44, at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman Wednesday evening. The Sooners (4-1) were led by freshman guard David Godbold who scored 14 points and picked up seven rebounds, both career highs.

The Douglass (Oklahoma City) High School product had previously played just eight minutes in two games during the Great Alaska Shootout. Against Coppin State, Godbold played 36 minutes, including the entire second half.

With junior Terrell Everett running the point, the Sooners had only 10 turnovers, their fewest this season. Everett scored 13 points and had career highs in rebounds (9), assists (6) and steals (4).

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"He was a lot better with his turnovers tonight," said OU head coach Kelvin Sampson referring to Everett. "In the first half he was looking to pass. We finally told him he has to go to the rim when he penetrates. In the second half, he started to penetrate and score."

Juniors Kevin Bookout and Taj Gray did the damage on the inside for the Sooners. Bookout had 11 points and six rebounds while Gray registered nine points, six boards, two blocks and two steals.

The Oklahoma defense held Coppin State scoreless from the field for periods of 4:38, 3:33 and 3:52 in the first half and 5:09 to start second half.

Said Godbold, who was 4-for-6 from 3-point range, "I knocked down some early shots and once I hit the first one I felt more comfortable. I also tried not to come out and turn the ball over and make stupid freshman mistakes."

The Sooners won despite shooting a season-low .404 from the field and .292 from beyond the arc. OU had success on the boards, however, outrebounding the Eagles by a 42-29 count.

Oklahoma played without sophomores Brandon Foust, Drew Lavender and Lawrence McKenzie. They were suspended for the game by Sampson for a violation of team rules.

OU next plays the Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday, Dec. 8, in West Lafayette, Ind., at 8 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on ESPN.