Auburn
Oklahoma
AUBURN, Ala. (01/24/2026) — The Oklahoma Sooners secured a hard-fought non-conference road victory Saturday, weathering a tough environment at Neville Arena to defeat the Auburn Tigers 72-65 in front of 3,049 spectators.
How It Happened
The Sooners overcame a competitive effort from the Tigers by establishing dominance on the glass and executing their half-court offense with greater efficiency. Oklahoma outrebounded Auburn 39-31, a crucial margin in a game decided by single digits. That control of the boards limited second-chance opportunities for the Tigers and allowed the Sooners to dictate the pace for significant stretches.
Oklahoma shot a steady 42% from the field, relying on crisp ball movement that generated 16 assists. While the Sooners struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 25% of their three-point attempts, their consistent interior scoring and rebounding proved to be the difference. Auburn, meanwhile, stayed in the game with timely long-range shooting, converting on 37% of their three-point attempts. However, the Tigers' overall field goal percentage was held to 38%, and their nine assists reflected a struggle to find consistent offensive rhythm against the Oklahoma defense. Both teams were plagued by turnovers, with Oklahoma committing 16 and Auburn 15.
Turning Point
The game remained tight into the fourth quarter, with Auburn tying the score at 59-59 with just under five minutes to play. From there, Oklahoma's defense took over. The Sooners engineered a decisive 6-0 run, holding the Tigers scoreless for nearly four minutes to gain critical separation in the final moments. A late three-pointer sealed the victory for the Sooners, capping a 13-6 run to close out the game.
Star of the Game
Freshman Aaliyah Chavez led the No. 16 ranked Sooners with 18 points, including four three-pointers. Sahara Williams and Raegan Beers each contributed 13 points, while Brooklyn Stewart added 12 points off the bench.
For the Auburn Tigers, A'riel Jackson delivered a career-high 19 points off the bench. Ja'Mia Harris and Mya Petticord each scored 12 points, and Harissoum Coulibaly added 10.
What It Means
For Oklahoma, this victory marks their second consecutive win after a three-game skid and improves their record to 16-4 on the season. Coming off an emotional overtime victory against No. 2 South Carolina, securing a tough road win against an SEC opponent demonstrates the team's resilience and strengthens its NCAA Tournament resume.
For Auburn, the loss drops them to 13-8. Despite the outcome, the Tigers showed they could go toe-to-toe with a ranked opponent. The performance of A'riel Jackson was a significant bright spot, but the inability to control the defensive boards against a physical Sooners team ultimately proved too much to overcome at home.