OKLAHOMA 86, Athletes First 78

<br>NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Hollis Price scored 20 points, and Aaron McGhee and Ebi Ere had 19 each, leading Oklahoma to an 86-78 exhibition victory over Athletes First on Monday night. <br><br>Quannas White,

Tuesday, November 6th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Hollis Price scored 20 points, and Aaron McGhee and Ebi Ere had 19 each, leading Oklahoma to an 86-78 exhibition victory over Athletes First on Monday night.

Quannas White, like Ere a newcomer this year, added 10 points to give Oklahoma four double-figure scorers.

Athletes First, a team made up of former college players, was led by Alonzo Richmond with 21 points and Tony Heard with 20.

Oklahoma led by as many as 15 in the first half but Athletes First chipped away and cut the margin to 69-65 midway through the second. Ere then hit a 3-pointer to stop the run, and the Sooners built the lead back to nine.

Richmond, who played at Phillips University, converted a three-point play with 3:10 left to make the score 81-76. Athletes First cut the lead to five again, 83-78, a few minutes later, but missed its final five shots and got no closer.

Oklahoma shot just 39 percent, but had a 49-39 advantage on the backboards and came up with 18 turnovers.

The Sooners (26-7 last year) play their final exhibition Friday night before opening the regular season Nov. 12 against Central Connecticut in the Preseason NIT.