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Sooners Roll in Exhibition Opener

Freshman Blake Griffin pours in 19 points and adds eight boards

 
Photos Final Stats | Photos Coach & Player Quotes | Photos Game Notes
 
1st
2nd
F
RU
32
26
58
OU
52
41
93
 
Photos  Oklahoma vs. Rockhurst Photo Gallery
Video  OU vs. Rockhurst SoonerVision Game Highlights
 
 Stats Comparison
OU
RU 
 Points
93
58
 FG Made-Attempted
33-53
22-57
 FG Percentage
.623
.386
 3P Made-Attempted
12-21
5-17
 3P Percentage
.571
.294
 FT Made-Attempted
15-20
9-13
 FT Percentage
.750
.692
 Rebounds
34
26
 Turnovers
11
14
 
 OU Stat Leaders
RU Stat Leaders
 Griffin, B.
19
Points
15
 Torson
 Griffin, B.
8
Rebounds
4
 Barnthouse
 Johnson
6
Assists
4
 2 Players
 Davis
3
Steals
2
 Torson

 2 Players 

2
Blocks
1
 3 Players
 
2007-08 OU Men's Basketball Central
Oklahoma Season Statistics | Big 12 Conference | NCAA
 

NORMAN, Okla.  -- Eager Oklahoma basketball fans got their first glimpse of freshman sensation Blake Griffin, and the McDonald's All-American did not disappoint.

The 6-10 power forward from Oklahoma City poured in 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with eight boards in just 21 minutes of action as the Sooners cruised to a 93-58 victory in their exhibition opener over Rockhurst University Wednesday night.

Sophomore guard Tony Crocker showed no ill-effects from summer leg surgery, chipping in 17 points with the help of 3-of-3 3-point shooting as the Sooners improved to 38-2 in exhibition games over the past 20 seasons.

OU head coach Jeff Capel knew that the Sooners had to have players step up on the offensive side of the court from a team that finished Big 12 play tied for 10th in scoring a year ago and lost two of its top three scorers.

"Blake (Griffin) is a guy capable of being a double-double guy and we want to push him to do that," said Capel.  "As impressive as some of the plays he made today were, he has so much room for improvement, and the great thing is he realizes that."

Oklahoma shot 62.3 percent (33-of-53) for the game, including 57.1 percent (12-of-21) on 3-point attempts. Crocker and junior point guard Austin Johnson (4-for-4) were perfect from long range, combining for seven makes.  Johnson finished the night with 12 points, six assists and no turnovers.

The Sooners led by just two, 18-16, at the 13:24 mark of the first half before going on a 25-7 run to lead 42-23 at the 5:29 mark.  The spurt was capped by one of six Griffin dunks.

Said Griffin, "It was a lot of fun getting out on the floor and playing against someone other than ourselves.  We have all been looking forward to this for a long time.  We were able to do a lot of learning about ourselves, what we do well and what we need to improve on.

"Tonight was exciting, being able to suit up for Oklahoma for the first time.  But I know there are things I need to improve on and I look forward to the next time."

OU couldn't quite keep pace with its torrid 70.4 percent first-half field goal mark and settled for a 53.8 percent figure after halftime.

Junior college All-America point guard Omar Leary contributed nine points and three assists while Longar Longar and Taylor Griffin added eight each. Sophomore Keith Clark, who played in only 11 games last year before sustaining a knee injury, netted six points and three boards in 20 minutes of court time.

Oklahoma outmanned the Hawks 34-12 in the paint while OU's bench contributed 37 points to Rockhurst's 10. John Torson scored 15 points to lead the Hawks, a Division II program from Kansas City, Mo.

The Sooners return to action Friday in Norman versus Fayetteville State in their final exhibition game. 

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