Sooners, Pirates Open Myrtle Beach Invitational - University of Oklahoma

NORMAN – Oklahoma (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) opens the Myrtle Beach Invitational against East Carolina (3-0, 0-0 American) Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. (CT) at the HTC Center in Conway, S.C.

The Sooners last played Friday, Nov. 12 and beat the UTSA Roadrunners 96-44 behind 21 points by Tanner Groves. Groves finished the week averaging 18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.  

ON THE AIR

Thursday's game will be available on ESPNU with Chuckie Kempf and King McClure on the call.

The contest tips at 6 p.m. CT and will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Chad McKee and Kevin Henry announcing.

SERIES HISTORY

• Oklahoma and East Carolina will face off for the first time when the two teams play Thursday, Nov. 18. The Sooners will compete in the Myrtle Beach Invitational for the first time in program history.

SCOUTING THE PIRATES

• ECU opened the season with a 70-62 victory over South Carolina State before beating Canisius (83-71) and Western Carolina (95-79). East Carolina head coach Joe Dooley is in his 8th season leading the Pirates.
• Tristen Newton is the Pirates leading scorer and averages 19.7 points, 4.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. Newton tallied 30 points in ECU's victory over Western Carolina. The Sophomore guard also is the team leader in assists (4.7) and second in rebounds (5.0) per contest.
• Brandon Johnson is ECU's team leader with 8.7 rebounds per game and boasts 26 rebounds to start the season.

LAST TIME OUT ...

• Oklahoma moved to 2-0 and put on a display on both ends of the court against the Roadrunners in the 96-44 victory.
• The Sooners held the Roadrunners to 22.7% (15-66) shooting from the field. The third-lowest field-goal percentage by an OU opponent since the 1995-96 season. It is the lowest percentage since Texas Tech shot 21.2% (1/28/15).
• OU entered halftime with a 23-point advantage and held UTSA to only 10 points. UTSA held a 4-2 edge with 17:02 left in the first half and scored six points over the next 13 minutes and 30 seconds. OU pushed its 26-10 lead to 33-10 over the final three minute. Elijah Harkless ended the half with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
• Out of the break, Oklahoma continued its offense display, hitting three-consecutive 3 pointers within the first two minutes, while holding UTSA scoreless.
• Tanner Groves led OU with 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting from the field and is the first Sooner score 20-plus points in a game this season. Groves grabbed nine boards in the win and finished second on the team behind Jalen Hill's 11.
• Umoja Gibson finished with 10 points and has back-to-back games with 10-plus points. Elijah Harkless and Marvin Johnson reached double-figure points for the first time this season.

UP NEXT

• Oklahoma plays either Old Dominion or Indiana State Friday, Nov. 19 at the HTC Center in the second round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational. Depending on the outcome of the game against ECU, the Sooners will play at either 4 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. (CT).