|
|
The fifth place game of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout featured two teams searching for an identity.
Oklahoma overwhelmed Nicholls State late in an 81-60 victory at Sullivan Arena, but both teams discovered what it will take for them to have successful seasons. Oklahoma trailed 48-41 early in the second half, but finished the game on a 40-12 run. Aggressive defense, great outside shooting by junior guard Cade Davis and strong inside play by freshman forward Tiny Gallon sparked the second-half surge by the Sooners. "It feels good to get the win," Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said. "We did a better job of rotating our zone in the second half and a better job of rebounding." Oklahoma was ranked No. 25 at the start of the week, but had lost three straight before Saturday's win. "We're not as good as everyone thought we were," Capel said. "We have a lot of work to do, just little things. We have to understand the importance of those things." Nicholls State fell to 0-8, but despite the loss, the Colonels looked nothing like the squad that was dispatched by UAA in the opening game of the tournament. In its final two Shootout games, Nicholls State battled Washington State and Oklahoma before running out of steam. The Colonels led 48-41 four minutes into the second half before the Sooners caught fire. "We've improved since we left Thibodaux, it seems like a month ago," Colonels coach J.P. Piper said. "I really believe if you look at us against Alaska Anchorage and you look at us tonight we are a totally different team." The Sooners played without sophomore guard Willie Warren, the tournament's leading scorer through the opening rounds. Capel said Warren sat because of a coach's decision and didn't elaborate. With Warren out the Sooner played a six-man rotation almost exclusively. Six Oklahoma players scored in double figures, accounting for all of the team's scoring. Davis led the way with 18 points, hitting 4 of 9 3-point baskets. Gallon added 15 points. "They have so many weapons," Piper said. "It seems like every time we went to help inside, Cade was wide open. The ball looks like it is going in every time it leaves his hand." Sophomore guard Fred Hunter and junior guard Dominic Friend each had 14 points to lead Nicholls State. Friend, who was 4 of 6 from behind the arc, had career highs in points scored and 3-pointers. Hunter made perhaps the play of the game when he grabbed an offensive rebound, then while stumbling toward the top of the free-throw line, flipped a backward pass over his shoulder to Maurice Foster, who unfortunately missed the layup. The Colonels grabbed an incredible 17 offensive rebounds. In the first half, Nicholls State seized 11 offensive boards. Oklahoma had zero offensive rebounds and seven total. "I didn't really see that coming," Piper said. "I was really pleased with our effort on the glass."