By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer
NORMAN, Okla. (AP)
-- Andrew Fitzgerald scored 22 points and Steven Pledger hit the tying
3-pointer to force overtime as Oklahoma rallied to beat North Carolina
Central 71-63 on Monday night.
The Eagles (1-1), who are
reclassifying from Division II to Division I, led for the entire second
half until Pledger connected from the right wing with 15.2 seconds left
to tie the game at 58.
Barry Honore blocked C.J. Wilkerson's
driving shot for the tie in the final seconds, and the Sooners (2-0)
never trailed in overtime after Nick Thompson's two layups to start the
extra period.
North Carolina Central was trying to snap a
40-game losing streak on the road and nearly pulled it off against an
Oklahoma team coming off a losing season and with nine newcomers on the
roster.
Landon Clement hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead the Eagles. Wilkerson added 16 points and Nick Chasten scored 13.
Pledger finished with 14 points and Nick Thompson had 12 rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma.
Wilkerson,
Clement and Chasten hit consecutive 3-pointers to put North Carolina
Central ahead midway through the first half, and the Eagles were able
to stay ahead until the final minute of regulation.
Fitzgerald
scored Oklahoma's first 10 points of the second half just to keep the
Sooners in the game, and North Carolina Central led by as many as six
after Fitzgerald went to the bench with his fourth foul.
Pledger
rattled in a 3-pointer from the left corner to cut the deficit to 56-55
with 1:06 remaining and give the Sooners a chance. He then came through
with the biggest shot after Wilkerson's two free throws stretched the
lead back to three.
Calvin Newell had the ball knocked away by
Emanuel Chapman but was able to recover it along the left sideline and
throw a cross court pass to Pledger, who was open on the right wing for
the tying shot.
Before then, the Sooners were in jeopardy of losing for just the third time in 81 nonconference games since 1999.
Updated November 15, 2010
