Hield scores 24, No. 8 Oklahoma beats McNeese State 85-56

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Coming off of a hard-fought road win at Memphis, Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger got what he wanted out of the home opener on Friday night.

He played his entire roster in the eighth-ranked Sooners' 85-56 win over Southland Conference opponent McNeese State. Eleven different players saw at least 10 minutes, with no one on the floor for more than 25.

''Good opportunity to get a lot of guys some really good minutes,'' said Kruger. ''They were making plays for each other and we had some really good stretches defensively. Maybe we were a little too unselfish, passing up good shots, but I liked our ball movement.''

Buddy Hield had 24 points for Oklahoma. He scored 13 points in the first 4:45 of the second half before sitting the rest of the game. The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year hit 9 of 13 from the field, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. He scored 30 points Tuesday against Memphis.

''My teammates got me the ball and I just had some good shots'' Hield said. ''We were pushing the ball up in transition and they were finding me in some good spots. So hats off to them.''

The preseason All-America selection hit a pair of baskets to spark an 8-0 Oklahoma run that gave the Sooners (2-0) the lead for good at 18-11 in the first half. McNeese State (0-3) got no closer than six points. Oklahoma extended the first-half lead to 18 before settling for a 41-24 halftime advantage.

Senior Isaiah Cousins and freshman Rashard Odomes each had 15 points for the Sooners.

Kruger substituted freely throughout the game, as the Sooners led by as many as 36 points in the second half. The Sooners hit 11 of 25 3-point shots for 44 percent and 10 players scored.

Jamaya Burr had 11 points and six rebounds for McNeese State.

FREE ISN'T ALWAYS FREE:

Oklahoma shot a higher percentage from the field (31-64, 48.4 percent) than from the free-throw line (12-26, 46.2 percent)

NOT LONGAR, BUT CLOSE

Seven-foot center Akolda Manyang made his debut for the Sooners after missing the first two games with a foot injury. He is the cousin of former Sooner center Longar Longar and sports the same No. 30. Manyang grabbed six rebounds in 10 minutes of action and missed both of his field goal attempts.

TIP-INS:

McNeese State: The Cowboys face one of the most difficult schedules in their history, playing five teams that were in last season's NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma was the second Top 25 team they had played in a week.

Oklahoma: The Sooners have now won 23 consecutive home openers and 36 of the last 37. Their last home-opening loss was 84-83 at the hands of Massachusetts in Billy Tubbs' final year as head coach (1993-94).

UP NEXT:

McNeese State hosts Dillard Wednesday.

Oklahoma hosts Incarnate Word Tuesday.