Oklahoma Uses Quick Start To Race Past Lions

The weather outside was frightful, but Buddy Hield brought the fire for No. 19 Oklahoma in the season opener for the Sooners.

Hield set a school record by hitting all seven of his 3-point attempts and scored 25 points to lead the Sooners to an easy 78-53 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

Oklahoma, buoyed by the positive ruling from the NCAA on TaShawn Thomas' eligibility, came out on fire on both ends of the floor. The Sooners raced out to a 16-0 lead and didn't allow SE Louisiana to score until the Lions hit two free throws six minutes into the game. The Lions didn't hit a field goal until there was 11:47 left in the first half after missing their first 14.

The Sooners shot just 39 percent from the floor for the game and outside of Hield, the Sooners were just 2-of-14 from behind the arc. However, the Sooners clamped down on the Lions defensively, holding SELU to 32.8 percent shooting and 3-of-20 from behind the arc. OU also forced 20 turnovers.

Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler both had double-double for the Sooners, as Cousins poured in 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Spangler had 11 points and rebounds.

In his first game with OU, Thomas had four points and three rebounds, but an adjustment is to be expected for him as the other four starters for the Sooners are the same from a year ago.

Oklahoma faces a tough test in its next game on Wednesday, as the Sooners travel to Omaha to take on Creighton at 7 p.m.