Oklahoma 79, Oklahoma Christian 51

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Freshman Keith Clark scored 18 points to lead Oklahoma to a 79-51 exhibition win Tuesday night against Oklahoma Christian in coach Jeff Capel's first game on the sidelines for the

Tuesday, October 31st 2006, 10:59 pm

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Freshman Keith Clark scored 18 points to lead Oklahoma to a 79-51 exhibition win Tuesday night against Oklahoma Christian in coach Jeff Capel's first game on the sidelines for the Sooners.

Capel got a warm greeting from the crowd when he first walked out of the tunnel wearing a charcoal gray suit, white shirt and crimson tie, and another after his pregame introduction.

The former Duke player and Virginia Commonwealth coach was hired in April to replace Kelvin Sampson, who left after 12 seasons to coach at Indiana.

He inherits a team that went 20-9 last season but lost more than half of its scoring with the departure of seniors Taj Gray, Kevin Bookout and Terrell Everett.

Longar Longar scored 15 points, David Godbold added 12 and Taylor Griffin had 10 for Oklahoma, which committed only one turnover in the second half.

Keith Harris led Oklahoma Christian with 19 points, while Charles Baldwin scored 12 and Jason Taylor added 10.

The Sooners took the lead early with a 13-2 run started by Michael Neal's jumper in the lane and finished by Godbold's steal and two-handed jam that made it 15-6. Oklahoma then extended its lead with a 10-0 spurt that included 3-pointers by Godbold and Griffin and layups by Neal and Clark and led 43-22 at halftime.

Oklahoma's Nate Carter did not play after being poked in the eye in practice.

The Sooners have one more exhibition game before starting the regular season November 10th against Norfolk State.