Oklahoma 69, Albany 60: TaShawn Thomas recorded 18 points and four blocks to help the Sooners rebuff the Great Danes in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

Buddy Hield scored 15 points as third-seeded Oklahoma (23-10) advanced to Sunday's round of 32 against 11th-seeded Dayton. Ryan Spangler contributed nine points and 11 rebounds for the Sooners, who lost their first game in each of the last two NCAA tournaments.

Peter Hooley scored 15 points while Evan Singletary added 13 as No. 14 seed Albany (24-9) lost for only the second time in its last 21 games while making its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Sam Rowley scored 12 and Ray Sanders registered 11 points and seven rebounds for the Great Danes.

Oklahoma never trailed and took a 37-28 lead at the break on Jordan Woodard's driving layup at the buzzer. The Sooners made six of their final nine shots prior to intermission after Hooley's bucket got Albany within 25-23, while the Great Danes missed 13 of their last 19 from the field after starting 6-for-12.

Sanders' third 3-pointer cut the deficit to 45-40 with 14:40 remaining before Frank Booker (eight points) finished a 7-0 spurt with a bucket and 3-pointer to extend Oklahoma's lead to 12. Singletary drilled a 3 from the corner to make it 60-54 with four minutes left, but Isaiah Cousins answered from beyond the arc on the ensuing possession as the shot clock buzzer sounded and Albany didn't get any closer than six the rest of the way.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Coach Lon Kruger earned his first NCAA victory with the Sooners, giving him tournament wins with five schools (Kansas State, Florida, Illinois and UNLV). ... The Great Danes, who have won the last three America East Conference tournament titles, fell to 1-5 in the NCAA Tournament, with their victory coming over Mount St. Mary's 71-64 in last year's opening round. ... Oklahoma has used the same starting lineup in every game this season.