TUESDAY'S GAME BASICS
Lon Kruger will patrol the sideline for the first time as OU head coach when the Sooners host Northeastern State in an exhibition game Tuesday night at Lloyd Noble Center. The contest, OU's first of two exhibition game this season, is scheduled to tip at 7:07 p.m. CT and will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KOKC AM 1520 in Oklahoma City; KTBZ AM 1430 in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck announcing (it will be joined in progress following Sooner Sports Talk with Bob Stoops). The game will be televised by the Sooner Sports Network (Cox Cable 3 and 703 in Oklahoma City and Tulsa) with Bob Carpenter and Billy Tubbs calling the action. A live webcast will be offered for free on SoonerSports.com.
TICKET INFORMATION
• Tickets are available for $5, $10 and $20 at the OU Athletics Ticket Office and online at SoonerSports.com. Lloyd Noble Center's north and east ticket windows will open at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
• OU students who present a valid school I.D. will be admitted to Tuesday's game free of charge (lower north entrance).
LON KRUGER ERA BEGINS
• Oklahoma announced Lon Kruger as its 14th head men's basketball coach on April 1. The 2011-12 season will mark the 26th year as a collegiate head coach for Kruger, who owns a 479-304 (.612) career record. A two-time Big Eight Conference Player of the Year at Kansas State (1973 and '74), Kruger compiled a 161-71 (.694) record the last seven seasons at UNLV, including a 127-44 (.743) mark the last five years for an average of 25.4 wins. Oklahoma is his sixth collegiate coaching stop. He owns a 14-13 NCAA Tournament record and is one of two coaches to lead four programs to multiple wins in the event. Kruger coached his 1988 Kansas State team to the Elite Eight, his 1994 Florida team to the Final Four and his 2007 UNLV team to the Sweet 16.
• Kruger brought with him from UNLV assistant coaches Steve Henson and Lew Hill, as well as director of basketball operations Mike Shepherd. Each were with Kruger for all seven years in Las Vegas. Kruger also hired assistant coach Chris Crutchfield, who served in the same capacity the past four seasons at Oral Roberts.
PREVIEWING NORTHEASTERN STATE
Located in Tahlequah, Okla., NCAA Division II member Northeastern State University is a school of 9,500 students that is independent but will compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association beginning in 2012. NSU finished 9-17 overall last year, going 7-6 at home and 2-11 on the road. The RiverHawks are under the direction of head coach Larry Gipson, who is in his 15th year at the school. He owns a 240-158 (.603) record there, and is 525-318 (.623) in 29 years overall.
Northeastern State returns just four players who saw action last year, including three starters. Senior forward Justin Johnson is the team's leading returning scorer (9.3 ppg) and rebounder (5.0 rpg). The 6-7, 230-pounder started 23 contests last year and shot .484 from the field and .387 from 3-point range (24-for-62) in his 27.0 minutes per outing. Junior guard Ethan Anderson started all 25 of his games while averaging 5.0 points and 4.3 boards. Sophomore guard Dee Willis contributed 4.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists while starting 19 games. Junior guard Terance Reaves came off the bench to supply 5.6 points a contest.
Tuesday will mark Northeastern State's first exhibition game of the year. The RiverHawks will also play at Oral Roberts on Sunday before starting their regular season Nov. 11 against West Texas A&M in Wichita, Kan.
OU-NORTHEASTERN STATE HISTORY
Tuesday's game will mark the second time Oklahoma and Northeastern State will meet in exhibition play. In November 2005 (Kelvin Sampson's final season at OU), the Sooners posted a 70-35 win over the then-Redmen at Lloyd Noble Center. Taj Gray paced OU with 26 points (on 12-for-15 shooting) and 11 rebounds while Kevin Bookout added 13 points and 16 boards. The Sooners overcame 0-for-11 3-point shooting and a 10-for-20 night at the free throw line by shooting .556 from two-point range. OU held NSU to .271 field goal shooting, posted a 47-36 rebounding advantage and forced 23 turnovers. Sid Melvin led NSU with eight points while Pat Moore added seven points and 10 boards.
The Sooners and RiverHawks have never met in regular season action.
EXHIBITING SUCCESS
Oklahoma has compiled a 43-2 exhibition record over the last 23 years. Last season, the Sooners beat Northern State (S.D.) University, 75-64, in Norman in their lone exhibition outing. The last time OU lost an exhibition game was November, 2003 (89-82 to Athletes First).
UP NEXT
The Sooners will play the second of two exhibition games when they host Division II Washburn on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by the Sooner Sports Network.
