Oklahoma (No. 16 ESPN/USA Today/No. 17 AP) pulled away from Mount St. Mary's in the second half to earn a 95-71 victory in the season opener for both teams. Senior Jeremy Goode (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day) posted a team-high 18 points for the Mount in the loss.

Trailing 49-36 at the half, the Mount scored the first eight points of the second half to get back into the game. Mount St. Mary's sustained the run, cutting the lead to 55-50 with 14:47 left after a pair of Goode free throws. Oklahoma, however, countered with eight straight points, all at the free throw line, to take control of the contest.

Goode tallied 18 points and four assists for the Mount while Jean Cajou (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI) added 13 points in the loss. Kelly Beidler (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) added 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals while Shawn Atupem (Newport News, Va./Woodside) added 10 points and six boards for the Mountaineers.

Oklahoma was paced by Steven Pledger's 21 points off the bench. Pledger hit 8-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range in 19 minutes of playing time for the Sooners. Heralded freshman Tiny Gallon added 18 points and 15 rebounds in the win while All-America candidate Willie Warren added 15 points and 11 assists.

"I'm proud of the way we fought today," said Mount St. Mary's head coach Milan Brown. "We knew going into the game we were playing a really good team. In some parts of the game we did a good job, but we didn't sustain it for a period of time."

In the first half, the Sooners went on 10-0 run to take a 41-29 advantage to break open a two-point game. Oklahoma held a 49-36 lead at the break. Goode scored 14 of his 18 points in the opening half for the Mount. The Mount shot 51.9 percent in opening half, but was outrebounded 24-12.

Oklahoma had 11 points from Pledger and 10 points from Andrew Fitzgerald off the bench in the opening half.

The Mount returns to action on Wednesday, November 18, with a 7:30 p.m. game at American.

Game Notes...Oklahoma leads the all-time series with the Mount, 4-0...The Mount is now 1-14 against ranked opponents since moving to Division I in 1988-89...Goode's 18 points give him 1,301 for his career, moving him into 20^th all-time at the Mount...Oklahoma held a 51-to-30 advantage on the boards in the game.