In a thrilling comeback, the Oklahoma Sooners surged past the South Carolina Gamecocks, 86-74, after trailing by 13 points in the first half. The Sooners dominated the final 27 minutes, outscoring their opponents by 25 points to secure the victory and advance further in their quest for an NCAA tournament berth.
Nijel Pack led the charge with an impressive 24 points, shooting 7 of 14 from the field and nailing 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. Derrion Reid was right behind him, contributing 20 points on an efficient 6 of 8 shooting, including 2 of 3 from three-point range.
This performance marked Reid's second-highest scoring game, coming at a crucial time for Oklahoma. Tae Davis added 18 points, while Xzayvier Brown chipped in 14, missing only once as the Sooners wound down the clock.
The Gamecocks started strong, hitting threes at an impressive rate, but Oklahoma's defense tightened in the final minutes of the first half, allowing them to rally and tie the game. The momentum carried into the second half, where the Sooners took control. They shot a scorching 53% from three-point land while stifling South Carolina, holding them to just 21.4% from deep and 38.7% overall from the field.
This victory is a significant boost to the Sooners' NCAA tournament aspirations. While there's still work to be done, this win positions them favorably as they aim to solidify their spot.
Next up, Oklahoma faces the No. 6 seed, Texas A&M Aggies, on Thursday. The game will tip off 25 minutes after the conclusion of the Georgia vs.
Ole Miss matchup, which starts at 6 p.m. CT.
It's set to be an exciting showdown as the Sooners look to continue their journey.