Brycen Goodine emerged as a leading scorer with 14 points, spearheading a balanced offensive effort in which six players reached double figures, as Oklahoma registered a significant 76-72 victory over Texas on Saturday. This win was notable for breaking the Sooners’ eight-game losing streak against the Longhorns, and it marked their first triumph in Austin since 2021.
Ending their regular season on a high note, the Sooners had previously secured a 96-84 victory over No. 15 Missouri. Now, both Oklahoma and Texas prepare for their upcoming games in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The first round, slated for Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, will see Texas, holding a 17-14 overall record and a 6-12 conference record, face 12th-seeded Vanderbilt as the No. 13 seed. Meanwhile, Oklahoma, with a 19-12 overall mark and a matching conference record at 6-12, will compete against 11th-seeded Georgia as the 14th seed.
Oklahoma gained an edge in the game’s closing stages, grabbing a lead with under 10 minutes to play and extending it to a five-point margin. Jordan Pope then sparked a response for Texas, converting a layup to push them ahead, 66-65, with just 3:47 remaining. However, the Sooners reclaimed the lead through Jeremiah Fears, who sank two crucial free throws, and Duke Miles, who executed a three-point play, stretching the lead to 69-66. Momentum continued to favor Oklahoma when Arthur Kaluma hit a free throw followed by a critical corner 3-pointer from Goodine, establishing a game-high lead at 73-67 with 2:11 on the clock.
Despite a determined drive by Texas, with Pope contributing a basket and Fears adding two free throws in the final stages, it was Goodine’s sharp shooting that solidified Oklahoma’s position. Although Pope hit a three-pointer with just six seconds left, narrowing the score to 75-72, his final attempt at a three-point shot at the buzzer was thwarted, ensuring Oklahoma’s victory.
Goodine’s performance was reinforced by his shooting, where he hit 3 of 7 from beyond the arc, while Fears proved effective at the free-throw line, converting 9 of 10 attempts to amass 13 points along with four assists. Miles contributed 11 points and two steals, with Jalon Moore, Luke Northweather, and Glenn Taylor Jr. each adding 10 points to the mix.
On the Texas side, Pope led their scoring efforts with 21 points, and support came from Kaluma and Tramon Mark, who each contributed 12 points, while Julian Larry added 10 points off the bench. As both teams head into the postseason tournament, this hard-fought game highlights a competitive and unpredictable College Basketball season.
