NORMAN, Okla. – A 16-0 run by Oklahoma to open the game was too much for Southeastern Louisiana to overcome Sunday, eventually falling to the No. 19-ranked Sooners, 78-53, at Lloyd Noble Center.

Southeastern (0-2) overcame a sluggish first half, going toe-to-toe with Oklahoma (1-0) down the stretch, but a 23-point deficit at half proved too much to overcome for a young Lion squad.

"We got off to slow start today," head coach Jay Ladner said. "I thought we lacked discipline and patience on offense against a team with national championship aspirations. After we settled down, I was pleased with how we played. We're just not far enough along to spot a team like that 16 points."

In the second half, the Lions tightened up defensively and out-shot a veteran Oklahoma hoops team. SLU converted 13-of-31 (41.9 percent) second-half shots, including 3-of-8 (37.5 percent) from three-point range. The Sooners shot just over 34 percent from the floor (14-of-41) after halftime, going 3-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Despite having the more-experienced squad, Oklahoma only out-rebounded the Lions 49-47 in the game.

"We were playing out of control early," Ladner said. "In the second half we just did a better job of showing patience and playing better defense. I felt like we battled well with the No. 19-ranked team in the nation and that is something positive to build on."

Junior guard Andrew Guillory, playing in just his second game as a Lion after sitting out last season with an injury, led SLU in scoring. The Fort Worth, Texas, native pumped in 16 points. He grabbed five rebounds and dished out a pair of assists.

Onochie Ochie also reached double-digit points, scoring 10 for the Lions. Freshman Bret Barclay was a key contributor off the bench, pouring in eight points in 14 minutes of action.

DeVonte Upson grabbed a game-high 11 boards, marking the second straight contest he has grabbed at least 10 rebounds.

Overall, Southeastern was 21-of-64 from the floor (32.8 percent), 3-of-20 from beyond the arc (15 percent) and 8-of-16 from the free throw line.

Senior guard Bobby Hield set an Oklahoma record for three-pointers en route to a game-high 25 points. Hield, 9-of-16 overall, converted all seven three-point attempts he took, turning in the best shooting percentage from three-point range in Sooner history.

Isaiah Cousins (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Ryan Spangler (11 points, 11 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles.

The Lions held Oklahoma under 40 percent shooting overall (29-of-75, 38.7 percent), but the Sooners drained nine from beyond the arc (in 21 attempts, 42.9 percent).

"It was tough matchup, but we found out a lot about our team and where we need to go," Ladner said. "Our fans can be proud of how we played down the stretch."

SLU returns to action Saturday at Western Illinois. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Macomb, Illinois.


OKLAHOMA 78, SOUTHEASTERN LA. 53
At Norman, Okla. (Lloyd Noble Center)

SOUTHEASTERN LA. (0-2)
Guillory, Andrew 7-11 2-6 16; Ochie, Onochie 5-11 0-1 10; Barclay, Bret 3-4 2-2 8; Filmore, Joshua 2-12 0-0 6; Upson, DeVonte 2-7 2-5 6; Jackson, Zay 2-8 0-0 5; Jenkins, Cedric 0-11 2-2 2; Rumph, Zach 0-0 0-0 0; Maggio, Dylon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-64 8-16 53.

OKLAHOMA (1-0)
Hield, Buddy 9-16 0-0 25; Cousins, Isaiah 5-13 3-4 14; Spangler, Ryan 4-6 3-4 11; Walker, Dinjiyl 4-9 0-0 8; Woodard, Jordan 1-6 5-7 7; Thomas, TaShawn 2-6 0-2 4; Lattin, Khadeem 2-7 0-0 4; Booker, Frank 1-4 0-0 3; Bennett, D.J. 1-4 0-0 2; Mankin, Austin 0-3 0-0 0; Cole, C.J. 0-0 0-0 0; Slate, Trey 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-75 11-17 78.

Southeastern La............ 19 34 - 53
Oklahoma...................... 42 36 - 78

3-point goals--Southeastern La. 3-20 (Filmore, Joshua 2-8; Jackson, Zay 1-3; Jenkins, Cedric 0-6; Ochie, Onochie 0-1; Guillory, Andrew 0-2), Oklahoma 9-21 (Hield, Buddy 7-7; Cousins, Isaiah 1-3; Booker, Frank 1-4; Woodard, Jordan 0-1; Lattin, Khadeem 0-1; Mankin, Austin 0-1; Slate, Trey 0-1; Walker, Dinjiyl 0-3). Fouled out--Southeastern La.-None, Oklahoma-None. Rebounds--Southeastern La. 47 (Upson, DeVonte 11), Oklahoma 49 (Spangler, Ryan 11). Assists--Southeastern La. 10 (Jackson, Zay 2; Guillory, Andrew 2; Upson, DeVonte 2; Filmore, Joshua 2), Oklahoma 13 (Woodard, Jordan 7). Total fouls--Southeastern La. 17, Oklahoma 16. Technical fouls—Southeastern La.-None, Oklahoma-None. A-9626; Est. Attendance: 3052.