Keith Appling scored a career-high 27 points, including eight in the final 3:04 after the Sooners got within four points, and the Spartans pulled away in the final minutes for an 87-76 victory Saturday night in the championship game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
Appling, who was 8 of 12 from the field, was selected tournament MVP and he lived up to the title.
It was another unimpressive win for the Spartans (6-0) since their victory over then-No. 1 Kentucky moved them up one spot to the top of the poll.