Jan. 5, 2009

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Blake Griffin had 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead No. 6 Oklahoma to a 100-64 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday night.

The Sooners (14-1) played without coach Jeff Capel, who was hospitalized earlier Monday with stomach flu. Assistant coach Mark Cline took over in his absence.

Griffin recorded his 12th double-double in 15 games and had four blocked shots in 22 minutes. Tony Crocker and Willie Warren both added 15 points as the Sooners finished their nonconference schedule with their best start since 1987-88.

Oklahoma led 18-15 midway through the first half before scoring 11 straight points. The Hawks (1-9) never got closer than 10 points after that, trailing 48-22 at halftime.

UMES head coach Frankie Allen felt his team competed harder than it did in an 88-56 loss to Nebraska last Saturday.

"The intensity level was a lot better than what we saw at Nebraska. We executed a lot better tonight and the effort was there," he said. "The team gave a much better account of themselves tonight."

Allen was impressed by Griffin, too.

"Blake Griffin was a man among boys tonight but I think [Neal] Pitt battled with him and challenged him tonight," Allen said.

Pitt led the Hawks with 18 points and four rebounds on 7-of-17 shooting. Chris Conner chipped in with 12, scoring in double figures for the second straight game.

Oklahoma's reserves expanded the lead to 84-38 with 8:15 left.

OU shot 50 percent (37-of-74), while UMES was 23-for-74 from the field for the game (31.1 percent) and was outrebounded, 52-43.

"When we hit the MEAC schedule, we have to do a lot better job of scoring, but we can and I think a lot of MEAC teams aren't as big as we can be at times," Allen said."I think we will be in all our games once we hit MEAC play."

UMES returns home Sat. Jan. 10 for a 4 p.m. tip with Winston-Salem State.