NCAA Southeast Regional at Nashville, Tenn. : Sooners Wait Until Later to Pull Out Win

East Tennessee State figured to be little more than a workout for fourth-ranked Oklahoma. Instead, the Buccaneers nearly knocked out the Sooners.

Mookie Blaylock made a baseline drive with 1:21 left, and the Sooners held on for a 72-71 victory over East Tennessee State Thursday in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Southeast Regional. Oklahoma twice trailed by 17 points in the first half.

“I thought we were fortunate to win the game,” Oklahoma Coach Billy Tubbs said. “I’m not totally shocked. I think people around the nation a lot of times underestimate the powers of the East Tennessees and people like that.”

Blaylock’s shot from under the basket gave the Sooners (29-5) only their second lead of the game. But Blaylock, who was fouled, missed the free throw.

Greg Dennis, who scored 20 points, missed a shot for the Buccaneers (20-11) with 59 seconds left. Three seconds later, a jump ball gave East Tennessee possession.

Major Greer missed a jumper with 15 seconds left, giving the ball back to Oklahoma. Blaylock was fouled with eight seconds left, but missed the front of a one-and-one situation.

East Tennessee rebounded and called time out with four seconds left. Alvin West’s jumper from just inside midcourt was partially blocked by Mike Bell at the buzzer.

The Buccaneers finished fourth in the Southern Conference but earned a berth in the NCAA tournament by winning the postseason tournament.

Stacey King scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Oklahoma, and William Davis had 14 points--12 in the second half--and nine rebounds.

Oklahoma fell behind, 39-31, at halftime, a lead the Buccaneers stretched to 48-33 three minutes into the second half.

“I don’t think they were fazed at all by who they were playing,” King said. “We knew they were capable and had good players. They came in here and proved they belonged in the tournament.

Oklahoma pulled to within 69-66 with 4:51 to left. King made two free throws with 3:21 remaining, then Davis’s tip-in gave the Sooners their first lead, 70-69, with 1:56 left.

Jennings made two free throws with 1:31 remaining, giving East Tennessee its final lead, 71-70.

The Buccaneers, who made 45% of their shots in the first half, shot 30% in the second half. They had trouble when the Sooners went to a zone midway through the half. East Tennessee scored only three points in the final 5:04, all on free throws.

“I thought we got a little tentative in the second half,” Robinson said. “We didn’t have our best zone lineup in the game because of foul trouble. I think we were a little tired, and when you’re tired the outside shot is the first thing to go.”

Tubbs said the game turned when he went with the zone. “I’m not sure I’d call it a gutsy call as much as desperation,” he said.

Middle Tennessee State 97, Florida State 83--Freshman Mike Buck came off the bench to get 23 points in the second half, and the Blue Raiders scored the final 21 points to upset the No. 16 Seminoles.

Florida State (22-10) led, 67-50, five minutes into the second half and was still ahead, 83-76, with 5:05 remaining when the roof caved in.

Buck scored 15 consecutive points for Middle Tennessee State (23-7) during the run and finished with 26 points--making every shot he took, seven baskets that included six three-pointers, and six free throws.

Tony Dawson scored 21 points for Florida State and Tharon Mayes scored 20. Randy Henry scored 26 points for Middle Tennessee.

The Blue Raiders held Florida State’s George McCloud to 12 points, all on three-pointers.

Louisiana Tech 83, La Salle 74--Randy White scored eight of his 22 points in the final six minutes as the Bulldogs withstood a rally by the Explorers.

LaSalle (26-6) was trailing, 63-53, with 8:29 left, but Don Shelton and Jack Hurd scored baskets in close and Bob Johnson nailed a three-pointer to shave the lead to 63-60.

White scored a basket and two free throws as Louisiana Tech (23-8) pushed the lead back to 73-63 with 2:45 remaining, but the Explorers made a final run, closing to 75-72 on a basket by Lionel Simmons with 1:02 left.

Anthony Dade and White made two free throws each and Kennedy Lewis and Dade made baskets to get the Bulldogs out of trouble.

Hurd and Simmons scored 26 points each for La Salle. Dade scored 16 points for Louisiana Tech and Darryl Knight added 12.

Virginia 100, Providence 97--Richard Morgan scored 33 points, including four free throws in the final 1:36, and the Cavaliers shook off the Friars.

Providence (18-11), which won its first 13 games, ended by losing seven of its final eight, but gave the Cavaliers a battle. The Friars led, 95-94, after Matt Palazzi’s three-pointer with 1:52 remaining.

Morgan made two free throws 16 seconds later to give Virginia (20-10) the lead for good, and Brent Dabbs made two free throws with 1:05 left for a 98-95 advantage.

Cal Foster’s dunk with 30 seconds left pulled Providence to within a point. Morgan made two more free throws with 17 seconds left and Palazzi was wide on two three-pointers in the final four seconds.

John Crotty scored 24 points for Virginia, and Bryant Stith added 19. Marty Conlon scored 23 points for Providence as Palazzi had 19 and Eric Murdock added 16.