White Team Wins Media Hoops Game

Aug. 24, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - The tables were turned on Wednesday, Aug. 22, as the people who normally report on basketball games at Lloyd Noble Center were the ones playing.

Sooner men's head coach Jeff Capel and his staff hosted a 30-minute, five-on-five full court media game inside the Bruce Drake Practice Facility. Capel and all other onlookers were amused early and often.

Behind the steady play of KWTV television and KREF radio personality Toby Rowland, as well as the blue-collar effort of The Oklahoman's Jake Trotter, the white team took home a 52-48 victory over a feisty red team that was overmatched early.

Rowland finished with a team-high 22 points, fours assists and just one turnover. He was 8-for-13 from the field in a team-high 29 minutes. Trotter overcame major foul trouble to finish with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, half of them offensive.

The white team, which never trailed, jumped out to a 9-2 lead behind four quick points from The Oklahoman's Scott Wright, and things got worse before they got better for the turnover-laden red squad.

Media Basketball Game Photo Gallery | Box Score PDF

Serving as the white team's head coach, OU assistant Ben Betts rode a stellar draft to a commanding 38-21 halftime lead thanks to .533 (16-for-30) first-half shooting. Betts' crew also benefited from 13 red turnovers in the opening half.

Red team head coach Mark Cline was able to calm his players at the break, resulting in a much-improved second-half performance. KOCO's Chris Callahan poured in a game-high 29 points on workmanlike 12-for-17 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds for one of two red team double-doubles. The Oklahoman's Blake Jackson chipped in with 10 points and 11 boards.

With just three minutes remaining and behind by 13, the red team made its move. After taking a feed from Callahan, Jackson buried a 3-pointer despite being fouled by co-worker John Helsley. Jackson calmly drained the free throw for a rare 4-point play and drew the red squad to within nine, 51-42.

Nearly two-and-a-half minutes elapsed before another Jackson trey made the score 51-45 with 33 seconds left. For a moment, the red team's chances were bolstered when Sooner Spectator editor Jay Upchurch missed the front end of a white team one-and-one five seconds later. All hopes were dashed, however, when Trotter came up with the offensive rebound and drained a free throw to make it a three-possession game.

Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World swished a 3-pointer from the corner with four seconds left to make it a four-point difference, but it was too little too late as the white team claimed the win.

"This was a lot of fun," said a victorious Betts, who led his players in a net-cutting ceremony after the game. "Of course, it's always more fun when you win. I have to give it up to my players - they did a fantastic job of executing on both ends. I look forward to defending our title next year."

Rowland, who scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half when the white team opened its large lead, was named Most Valuable Player. For his efforts, he was awarded the net from the north goal.

"Hey, I was just out there trying to help my team," deadpanned Rowland. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates, even though I will say I did give 110 percent. I just did what I could to help us get the 'W.'"

A disheartened Cline was extremely subdued following his team's setback.

"I won't disclose the identity, but my last draft pick killed us," he said. "But we rallied and were right there down the stretch. We just had too many turnovers that cost us. I'm proud of my guys for battling back and giving us a shot at the end."

Said Capel, "I had a blast watching the game. It was a very successful inaugural OU media basketball game. Everyone played hard and that's what a coach likes to see. I was especially impressed with Al Eschbach and the way he ran the point guard spot to perfection for the red team. I need to have a talk with James Hale, though, because his missed block-outs might have cost his team the game.

"Everyone who played seemed to enjoy themselves. Hopefully this event will get bigger and bigger each year."

The biggest achievement -- and perhaps upset -- of the day was that no noticeable injuries were sustained.

WHITE TEAM
Damon Fontenot (KFOR), John Helsley (The Oklahoman), Toby Rowland (KWTV and KREF), Jake Trotter (The Oklahoman), Jay Upchurch (Sooner Spectator), Scott Wright (The Oklahoman), head coach Ben Betts

RED TEAM
Chris Callahan (KOCO), Shawn Clynch (KOKH), Guerin Emig (Tulsa World), Al Escbach (WWLS), James Hale (KOKC), Blake Jackson (The Oklahoman), Mark Rodgers (KOCO), head coach Mark Cline

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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