Oklahoma
South Carolina
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (03/11/2026) — The Oklahoma Sooners deployed a blistering second-half offensive attack to overcome a double-digit deficit, defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 86-74 on Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena.
Fueled by a stellar 24-point performance from guard Nijel Pack, the Sooners shot a remarkable 60% from the field and weathered an early South Carolina surge to secure the victory. Despite a balanced effort led by Kobe Knox, the Gamecocks could not contain Oklahoma's potent shooting after halftime.
How It Happened
South Carolina seized control midway through the first half, turning an early back-and-forth contest into a commanding lead. After trading baskets in the opening minutes, the Gamecocks found their rhythm from long range. A three-pointer from Nordin Kapic at the 13:58 mark pushed the South Carolina lead to 19-13, and the barrage continued. Threes from Grant Polk and Kobe Knox extended the advantage to 29-19 with 9:52 left in the half.
Forward Mike Sharavjamts was instrumental in the run, connecting on consecutive three-pointers just under a minute apart to give the Gamecocks their largest lead of the game, 36-23, with 7:03 on the clock. It appeared South Carolina was poised to run away with the contest.
Oklahoma, however, mounted a methodical comeback to close the half. A three from Tae Davis cut the deficit to single digits, and the Sooners' defense tightened. A flurry of interior scoring in the final two minutes, including a dunk by Derrion Reid, brought Oklahoma within a single possession. Jadon Jones capped the rally with a game-tying layup with just 15 seconds remaining, sending the teams into the locker room deadlocked at 42-42.
The Sooners carried that momentum directly into the second half. Mohamed Wague scored a layup on their opening possession to take a lead Oklahoma would not relinquish. Nijel Pack then took over, draining back-to-back three-pointers to stretch the lead to 51-44 just two minutes into the period. South Carolina battled to stay close, but Oklahoma's offense was relentless. Another three-pointer, this time from Derrion Reid with 14:04 to play, established a 10-point cushion at 59-49, and the Sooners maintained control for the remainder of the game.
Turning Point
The game swung decisively on an 11-0 Oklahoma run that spanned the final moments of the first half and the opening of the second. Trailing 42-39 after a South Carolina basket, the Sooners closed the first half with a Derrion Reid dunk and the tying layup from Jadon Jones. Coming out of the break, Mohamed Wague’s layup gave Oklahoma the lead, and Nijel Pack’s three-pointer at the 18:48 mark capped the run, transforming a three-point deficit into a 48-42 advantage. The sequence permanently shifted the game's momentum and put South Carolina in a defensive posture from which it never recovered.
Star of the Game
Oklahoma guard Nijel Pack was the catalyst for the Sooners' victory. He finished with a game-high 24 points and 5 assists, consistently delivering critical baskets to halt any potential South Carolina rally. His offensive explosion to start the second half set the tone and created the separation Oklahoma needed to cruise to the win. Derrion Reid (20 points) and Tae Davis (18 points) provided crucial scoring support in a balanced and efficient offensive showcase for the Sooners.
For South Carolina, Kobe Knox delivered a complete performance with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Mike Sharavjamts added 19 points and 8 rebounds in the losing effort.
What It Means
For the Oklahoma Sooners, the victory demonstrates their offensive ceiling and resilience. Overcoming a 13-point deficit with near-perfect shooting efficiency (60% FG, 44% 3PT) allows them to advance with significant momentum. The balanced scoring attack, with three players reaching at least 18 points, signals a team hitting its stride at the right time.
The loss marks a difficult end for the South Carolina Gamecocks, who controlled much of the first half before faltering against Oklahoma's offensive onslaught. Despite strong individual outings, the inability to get key defensive stops in the second half proved to be their downfall, concluding their run in Nashville.