University of Oklahoma Athletics
University of Oklahoma
Belmont
Sooners Trounce Belmont, 81-59
November 26, 2005 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Terrell Everett was extra focused on defense and it paid off on the offensive end of the court.
Everett scored 17 points, tied a career-high with nine assists and also keyed a 14-0 second-half run as No. 5 Oklahoma beat Belmont 81-59 Saturday night.
After trailing by as many as 18 points in the first half, the Bruins (2-1) got within 47-35 on Josh Goodwin's 3-pointer from the top of the key early in the second half.
Everett was fouled driving to the basket on Oklahoma's next possession and hit one of two free throws to start a string of 14 straight points for the Sooners (3-0). He added a three-point play, then stole the ball to set up a fast-break layup by Michael Neal.
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Everett made a jumper from the right side, and Oklahoma hit four more free throws to complete the run and take a 61-35 lead. Belmont was never again closer than 19.
"Terrell's just a heck of a basketball player," Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. ``I'm so glad he's on our team. I wouldn't want to have to play against him. ..."
Get in the O-Zone
"He was just outstanding in so many areas tonight - defense, rebounding, passing. He even hit his free throws."
Everett, a 6-foot-4 senior, said he was concentrating on his defense. It led to four steals and, subsequently, fast-break opportunities.
"He's hard to handle in the open court," Sampson said. "He could have had 11 or 12 assists tonight easy."
Oklahoma's Taj Gray, the Big 12 preseason player of the year, scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half and added 14 rebounds to notch his first double-double of the season.
Two of Gray's five baskets came off assists from Everett.
"He makes the game a lot easier," Gray said. "He gets in the lane and can create shots for himself and other guys as well."
Neal added 14 points, David Godbold scored 12, and Kevin Bookout had 11 for Oklahoma, which has won 42 straight nonconference home games. The Sooners' first road game is Wednesday at Tulsa.
Boomer Herndon, a transfer from Tennessee, scored a career-high 18 points to lead the Bruins, who were outrebounded 30-9 in the second half.
"If he can do that here, then we think in our league, he can really do something for us," Belmont coach Rick Byrd said. "... If he can learn our offense, get focused and clued in, I think he can be a very, very good mid-major player."
Everett also capped a 15-2 run that put the Sooners ahead to stay in the first half. After Belmont scored six straight points to tie the game at 8, six different Sooners scored during the spurt, and Everett finished it off with a jumper from the free throw line.
He pushed the lead to 28-13 by stealing the ball in the backcourt on consecutive possessions and converting back-to-back layups. The Sooners' lead reached 18 when Longar Longar scored to make it 35-17.
Belmont closed to 40-25 at halftime.
