Nijel Pack and Xavier Brown combine for 44 points as Oklahoma outlasts Texas in a dramatic SEC rivalry showdown at Moody Center, securing momentum heading into the SEC Tournament.
AUSTIN, Texas | In a rivalry showdown worthy of postseason intensity, Oklahoma defeated Texas 88–85 in overtime Saturday night at a sold-out Moody Center, capping the regular season with a thrilling road victory that showcased resilience, clutch shooting, and defensive grit.
The Sooners (17–14, 7–11 SEC) extended their late-season surge, winning four straight games and six of their last eight, while also reinforcing a growing trend in the new SEC rivalry — the road team has now won all four matchups since Oklahoma and Texas joined the conference in 2024.
Oklahoma’s backcourt duo of Nijel Pack and Xavier Brown delivered when it mattered most.
Pack led the Sooners with 23 points, knocking down three three-pointers and sealing the game with two clutch free throws in the final seconds of overtime.
Brown added 21 points, along with a team-high four assists and a game-high four steals, providing leadership and defensive intensity throughout the contest.
Together, the pair accounted for 44 points and 15 made field goals, marking their eighth 20-point performances in SEC play this season.
Clutch Overtime Execution
The game appeared to swing in Texas’s favor late in regulation.
Oklahoma had built a 12-point lead with 6:58 remaining, but the Longhorns stormed back. With just 3.8 seconds left, Texas guard Jordan Pope was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly sank all three free throws, tying the game and forcing overtime.
But the Sooners responded with poise in the extra session.
After Texas briefly grabbed an 83–82 lead, Oklahoma executed a decisive sequence. Guard Xavier Brown drove the lane and kicked the ball to Derrion Reid, who buried a corner three-pointer to give the Sooners a crucial four-point advantage with 11 seconds remaining.
Pack then iced the victory from the free-throw line after a defensive stop.
Balanced Effort Fuels Oklahoma
Oklahoma received contributions across the lineup in a gritty team performance.
- Tae Davis posted 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
- Derrion Reid added 11 points, including 6-for-6 shooting from the free throw line.
- Mohamed Wague chipped in eight points, five rebounds, and two steals.
The Sooners also controlled key statistical categories, including a 40–35 rebounding advantage and a 16–10 edge in points off turnovers.
Oklahoma converted 10 offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points, a critical factor in the tightly contested game.
Texas Led by Pope’s 30-Point Night
Texas (18–13, 9–9 SEC) erased Oklahoma’s late-game lead with a 20–8 run in the final minutes of regulation, but ultimately could not maintain momentum in overtime.
Rivalry History Continues to Shift
The victory improves Oklahoma’s all-time record against Texas to 59–50 and marks the Sooners’ 22nd win in Austin.
Since the turn of the century, Oklahoma has won nine games at Texas, including three in the past six seasons.
With both programs now members of the SEC, the rivalry continues to gain national attention as one of the conference’s most compelling cross-state battles.
SEC Tournament Up Next
Oklahoma now turns its attention to the SEC Tournament in Nashville, where the No. 11-seeded Sooners will face No. 14 South Carolina in the first round on Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena.
If Oklahoma’s backcourt continues its recent form, the Sooners could become a dangerous sleeper team capable of making a deep run in the conference tournament.
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-- By Frank Atkinson
John James contributed to this report
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