UTEP Defeats Oklahoma; Culpepper Scores 27 Points

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Randy Culpepper scored a season-high 27 points and Christian Polk added a career-high 17 points as UTEP built a big lead in the first half and beat Oklahoma 89-74 on Monday night at the All-College Classic.

The Miners (7-2) scored 15 straight points late in the first half and opened a 19-point lead, then never let the Sooners make a serious charge. Oklahoma (8-4) got within 10 points twice in the second half, including on Willie Warren’s free throw with 2:09 to play.

Culpepper answered with a three-point play at the opposite end, and then helped UTEP close the door with four free throws down the stretch.

Warren came back with 26 points after scoring a season-low four points with four turnovers in Oklahoma’s last game, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the Sooners to win their seventh straight game.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)