Sooners Cruise Past Sacramento State, 82-53

News9.com

NORMAN, Oklahoma – In their first game without sophomore Calvin Newell, the Oklahoma men's basketball team dominated Sacramento State in an 82-53 win Friday.

Newell was the team's second-leading scorer through the first five games of the season, but announced Thursday that he was leaving the team and transferring to be closer to his family. Even without Newell, OU had no trouble racking up points.

The Sooners (5-1) began the game on a 12-2 run and never looked back. They led from wire to wire and built a lead of as much as 35 points in the second half.

OU forced 22 turnovers on the night and turned those into 30 points, while shooting 57 percent from the field. Cameron Clark led all scorers with 18 points, Steven Pledger scored 15 and Andrew Fitzgerald added 13.

With turnovers haunting Sacramento State all night, it could not get any consistent offense going. Joe Eberhard and Heath Hoffman led the team in scoring, but only put up 10 points each.

The Sooners' victory comes after they suffered their first loss of the season in a 20-point blowout at the hands of Saint Louis. OU will remain in Norman for its next game on Dec. 8 against cross-state foe Oral Roberts.