In a thrilling showdown at Lloyd Noble Center, Oklahoma's sharpshooters were on fire, leading them to a 91-79 victory over Auburn. Despite Auburn’s Kevin Overton putting on a stellar performance with 26 points, the Tigers couldn’t keep up with the Sooners' relentless outside shooting.
Coach Steven Pearl didn’t mince words after the game, acknowledging the lack of urgency from his team. “We didn’t represent Auburn well tonight and that’s on me as their coach,” Pearl admitted. “I’ve got to do a better job.”
Overton, who was playing just 20 miles from his hometown of Oklahoma City, was a force on the court, logging 40 minutes and hitting 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, along with grabbing seven rebounds. His performance kept Auburn within reach in the first half.
Keyshawn Hall was a standout for Auburn too, matching Overton's 26 points with a scorching second half where he scored 23 and nailed all 11 of his free throws. Filip Jovic contributed off the bench with seven points and eight boards.
Oklahoma’s Nijel Pack, the SEC’s top 3-point shooter, was unstoppable in the first half, sinking all four of his attempts from deep. The Sooners capitalized on Auburn’s defensive lapses, scoring 30 of their 51 first-half points from downtown. Xzayvier Brown’s buzzer-beating three-pointer gave Oklahoma a nine-point cushion heading into halftime.
Despite Overton’s efforts to rally the Tigers, Oklahoma extended their lead in the second half, taking advantage of nine Auburn turnovers. The Sooners’ offensive execution was sharp, with Pack leading the way with 22 points and a 6-for-8 performance from three-point land. Mohamed Wague added a strong 18 points and nine rebounds.
Pearl highlighted the importance of tightening up defensively, noting, “You let a team like that get into a rhythm and play with confidence, then you’re going to have a hard time winning.”
With Auburn now gearing up for a crucial home stretch, starting with a matchup against Ole Miss, Pearl emphasized the stakes. “Saturday’s a must-win,” he stated.
“If you don’t win that game, you’re out of the NCAA Tournament. We have to play hungry.”
As the Tigers prepare to defend their home court, they’ll need to channel the urgency and precision that eluded them in Norman.