NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Jeremiah Fears scored 18 points to lead No. 21 Oklahoma past Georgia Tech 76-61 in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday night.
Jalon Moore had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Sooners (8-0), and Kobe Elvis scored 12. It was Oklahoma's first game since pushing its way into the AP Top 25 rankings by defeating Providence, Arizona and Louisville to win the Battle 4 Atlantis last week.
Jaeden Mustaf scored 16 points, Lance Terry had 14 and Duncan Powell added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Georgia Tech (4-4). Baye Ndongo, the No. 2 scorer and top rebounder for the Yellow Jackets this season, finished with four points and four rebounds in only 14 minutes because of foul trouble.
Georgia Tech jumped out to a 17-6 lead before the Sooners chipped away and trimmed their deficit to 34-30 at halftime.
Oklahoma took its first lead since the opening minute on a 3-pointer by Duke Mikes about three minutes into the second half that put the Sooners up 37-34. A 3-pointer by Elvis put Oklahoma ahead 51-41 with about 11 minutes remaining.
Georgia Tech: The Sooners outscored the Yellow Jackets 26-12 at the free-throw line in a game that was relatively even otherwise.
Oklahoma: Eight Sooners played at least 19 minutes, and five scored in double figures.
Fears made a short jumper and was fouled by Ndongo with 15:26 remaining. It was Ndongo’s fourth foul, and Fears made the free throw to put the Sooners up 42-36.
Georgia Tech’s first field goal in the second half came with 12:23 remaining. The Yellow Jackets missed their first eight shots after the break.
The Yellow Jackets visit North Carolina on Saturday. The Sooners host Alcorn State at McCasland Field House on Saturday.
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