NASSAU, Bahamas — The Oklahoma Sooners clinched a thrilling victory over Arizona with a score of 82-77 in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, showcasing impressive performances by their players. Freshman standout Jeremiah Fears led the team with a personal best of 26 points, while Jalon Moore contributed significantly with 24 points.
Oklahoma’s Duke Miles made a critical floater in the lane with just 2:55 left on the clock, putting his team ahead 78-69. Despite this, the Sooners struggled to convert any more baskets in the final moments of the game. With the score at 78-75, Arizona had several opportunities to close the gap, but missed three consecutive attempts from beyond the arc, alongside a blocked shot from KJ Lewis. Fears then secured a crucial defensive rebound and sealed the game by hitting two free throws, extending Oklahoma’s lead to four points.
In addition to Fears and Moore’s significant contributions, Miles added 11 points, and Luke Northweather provided 10 points for Oklahoma, which improved its record to 6-0. On the other side, Caleb Love led Arizona with 17 points despite shooting 7-of-18 from the field, while Jaden Bradley chipped in with 16 points, leaving the Wildcats at a record of 3-3.
The performance of Oklahoma throughout the tournament has dispelled notions that they would struggle this season, as they were picked to finish 15th in the SEC preseason rankings. Their recent victory came shortly after a narrow win against Providence, where they almost let a nine-point lead evaporate in the final minute.
A pivotal moment in the matchup came during the second half when Oklahoma made four three-pointers along with a three-point play during a six-possession stretch that culminated in a 68-57 advantage. Miles, Moore, and Glenn Taylor Jr. were instrumental in this scoring surge that helped secure their lead with just under nine minutes remaining.
Fears appeared more composed in this game compared to his previous outing against Providence, where he had struggled with eight turnovers. In this game, he showcased maturity by ending with five assists and limiting himself to just three turnovers while playing 33 minutes.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma is set to face Louisville in the championship game, while Arizona will take on West Virginia in the third-place matchup.