College Basketball Roundup : Sooners Are Hosts With the Most, Win, 77-57

Darryl Kennedy scored 28 points, 21 in the second half, as No. 13-ranked Oklahoma defeated Arkansas State, 77-57, Friday night in the opening round of the Sooner Invitational basketball tournament at Norman, Okla.

In the other game, Jerome Batiste scored 27 points and Michael Cutright added 26 as McNeese State (6-3) scored a 79-74 win over Chicago State (5-4).

Chicago State was without two starters, Shawn Bell and Laurent Crawford, both of whom were suspended earlier in the week for breaking team rules.

The Sooners (8-2) led, 62-41, midway in the second half before Arkansas State closed to within 12 points with 2:45 remaining. Kennedy then hit a jumper and a free throw, and the Sooners coasted the rest of the way.

Harvey Grant added 16 points and Ricky Grace 13 for Oklahoma.

Arkansas State (7-4) was led by Brad Goshien with 14 points. Steve Wiedower, the team’s leading scorer this season, was held to nine points, five below his average.

Wyoming 61, Utah 56--Eric Leckner scored 22 points for the Cowboys who took command with an 11-0 blitz early in the second half of the Western Athletic Conference opener at Salt Lake City.

Fennis Dembo had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Wyoming (8-3). Gale Gondrezick scored 20 points and Mitch Smith had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Utah (8-4).

BYU 75, Colorado State 67--Bobby Capener scored 5 of his 18 points in overtime to lead the Cougars in a WAC opener at Provo, Utah.

Colorado State’s Pat Durham tied the score, 57-57, on a dunk with one second remaining in regulation.

Michael Smith added 15 for the Cougars (9-4). Colorado State (6-6) was led by David Turcotte with 25.

Texas A&M; 93, Southeast Louisiana 76--Winston Crite scored 21 points and Paul Crawford added 16 for the Aggies (8-2) in the first round of the Drake Heritage tournament at Des Moines, Iowa.

Crawford was perfect for the night, hitting 6 of 6 from the floor and 4 of 4 from the line.

Southeast Louisiana (2-11) was led by Teddy Butler with 20 points.

In the championship game, Texas A&M; will face Drake, an 81-70 winner over Texas Arlington.

Michael Morgan scored 23 points and David Miller added 20 for Drake (8-5).

Santa Clara 78, Montana 70--Osei Appiah’s three-point basket climaxed a 10-1 run by the Broncos at the outset of the second half as they overcame a 38-32 halftime deficit at Santa Clara.

The loss ended a nine-game winning streak by the Grizzlies (10-3).

Chris Lane led Santa Clara (8-5) with 16 points. Todd Powell and Scott Zanon each had 18 for Montana.

Clemson 90, Fordham 86--Jerry Pryor scored 19 points as the unbeaten Tigers (10-0) held off the Rams (5-5) in the opening round of the Pacific Invitational at Honolulu.

Greg Pedro scored 22 points and Joe Paterno added 20 for Fordham.