KTUL.com - Tulsa's Channel 8 - News, Weather & SportsPledger's Career Night Lifts Sooners Past Houston

Steven Pledger poured in a career-high 31 points to help lead Oklahoma to a 79-74 win over Houston Saturday in the All College Classic at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.

The Sooners (8-1) trailed 20-17 midway through the first half before going on an 11-2 run to lead 28-22 on Cameron Clark's jumper. The Cougars would rally to regain the lead, but it was OU who took a 40-37 lead into the locker room at halftime.

In the second half, Houston exploded out of the gate and led 53-44 less than five minutes in, but Oklahoma put together seven straight points to get back in it.

The Sooners would re-take the lead when Pledger stole the ball from J.J. Thompson and converted on the other end for a 63-62 advantage with 6:14 to play.

A Pledger 3-pointer with five minutes remaining gave OU the lead for good.

The Sooners held a 14-point advantage at the free throw line and had just nine turnovers. OU also won the rebounding battle, with both Pledger and Romero Osby reaching double digits with ten each.

Joining Pledger in double figures for Oklahoma was Clark with 14 and Andrew Fitzgerald and Sam Grooms with 10 points.

Houston (4-5) was led by Jonathon Simmons' 20 points.

Oklahoma returns to the court Wednesday night at home against South Carolina State.