David Godbold, who had missed 16 of 17 shots over the last five games, hit consecutive three-pointers to jolt Oklahoma out of a second-half slump, then made two free throws with 34 seconds left to help the No. 12 Sooners hold off SMU 50-47 Tuesday night.
The Sooners (9-2) failed to score in the first 6:40 of the second half, letting the Mustangs go on a 9-0 run for a 29-26 lead. SMU was still leading 32-31 when Godbold swished a three from the top left of the arc, then another. Godbold’s late foul shots put Oklahoma up 47-42.
The Mustangs (7-5) were within two when Bryan Hopkins made two free throws with :13 left. Dez Willingham had a career-high 20 points for SMU. Taj Gray led Oklahoma with 15 points.
SIU player: I was dismissed
Junior Mike Dale left Southern Illinois’ basketball team “for personal reasons,” the school said in a statement Monday. But Dale told the Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale that coach Chris Lowery had dismissed him from the team Sunday.
“It’s just something we had to do. … I really don’t know what happened,” Dale said. “They changed. I know I made some mistakes, but I was going on the right track recently.”
In December 2004, Dale and former teammate Stetson Hairston pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from a fight at a Carbondale apartment complex.
Dale was placed on one year of court supervision and was suspended for violating team rules, missing two exhibition games and the 2004 season opener. He also had been suspended for academic reasons by Lowery for SIU’s Dec. 10 game against Kent State.
TUESDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Morgan State 49 at #5 Florida 92
Lee Humphrey 14 pts, Gators (13-0) season-high 12 3-pters to extend best start in school history. Joseph McLean 15 pts for Morgan St. (0-11), one of only 3 winless teams in Div. I.
Massachusetts 62 at #11 Boston C. 91
Sean Marshall 18 pts, Craig Smith 17 and Sean Williams key block that ignited 16-6 BC run in 1st half to put game out of reach as Eagles (11-2) won 5th straight. UMass is 5-5.
#12 Oklahoma 50 at SMU 47
Sooners scored fewest points since 52 in NCAA tourney loss to Michigan St. in 2004. OU’s Kelvin Sampson scheduled game as favor to SMU’s Jimmy Tubbs, part of Sampson staff in ’02-04.
NC-Greensboro 52 at #13 N.C. State 83
Tony Bethel emerged from 4-for-23 slump to make 8 of 9 FG tries for 20 pts and Wolfpack (12-1) made 7 3-pters in 1st half to stretch win streak to 7. Kyle Hines led Spartans (7-7).
UCF 57 at #19 Kentucky 59
Rajon Rondo (13 pts) turnaround jumper with :01 left for Cats (10-3), preventing biggest upset in Knights’ 36-yr. history. Central Fla. (6-6) tied it with :25 left on Mike O’Donnell 3-pter.
East Carolina 54 at #23 W. Forest 58
Trent Strickland 20 pts, Eric Williams 13 as Wake (11-2) escaped. Pirates led 54-52. Strickland tied it with FG, forced TO, fed Williams, who made 2nd FT to give Wake lead for good.
Davidson 58 at #23 UNC 82
Freshman Tyler Hansbrough season-high 23 pts, Reyshawn Terry 16 pts and 4 blocks for Tar Heels (8-2), who dominated Wildcats (7-5) on boards 54-31 and got 13 steals.
Miami (Ohio) 58 at N. Illinois 56
William Hatcher’s shot with 4.6 secs left won it for RedHawks (5-5, 2-0 MAC), who were led by Doug Penno’s 16 pts. NIU led 36-25 at half. Todd Peterson 12 pts for Huskies (6-4, 1-1).
