Guard Willie Warren (13), tries to make a basket during the game against Mount St. Mary on Saturday morning in the Lloyd Noble Center. Jeremy Dickie/The Daily

OU men’s basketball opened season play with a home win against Mount St. Mary’s 95 - 71, displaying just why this year’s freshman class is called one of the best.

“I thought our four freshmen played tremendous, especially in their opening game,” coach Jeff Capel said. “All of them played really well. I still think they have such a huge ceiling and chance to get better.”

Freshman guard Steven Pledger led all scorers with 21, 12 of which came from behind the arc. Freshman center Keith “Tiny” Gallon had 18 points, not to mention grabbing 15 boards as well.

Andrew Fitzgerald proved he deserves a big chunk of minutes, putting up 14 points and grabbing five boards, not to mention doing the dirty work diving for balls all over the court.

“Those guys are good,” Capel said. “Andrew does a lot of things that don’t show up in a box score; winning things that help the team. Steven Pledger can really shoot the ball. He gives you really good effort off the bench, and he is trustworthy; I see him hit shots like that every day in practice.”

Sophomore guard Willie Warren managed a double-double, putting up 15 points and dishing 11 assists.

Perhaps the most impressive stat was the 28 free throws the team earned, and then managing to make 25 of them.

The Mountaineers offense was able to capitalize in the first half off the weak transition defense displayed by the Sooners. OU allowed 38 points in the paint, most of which came off of easy layups in transition. The defense did, however, improve in the second half, holding the Mountaineers to 37.1 percent from the field.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Capel said. “I was not pleased with our transition defense. We have to do a better job of really listening and understanding a scouting report and transferring that to a game. Our communication in transition was not where it needs to be.”

Play will resume at 7 p.m. Tuesday as the Sooners host Louisiana-Monroe at Lloyd Noble Center.