Fifth straight loss drops the Oklahoma Sooners to bottom of SEC standings; Brown and Davis combine for 42 points in defeat at South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team suffered an 85-76 road defeat against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night at Colonial Life Arena.
This loss extended OU's current skid to five consecutive games, all within Southeastern Conference play, leaving them with a 1-5 record in league action and an overall mark of 11-8. The Gamecocks improved to 11-8 overall and 2-4 in the SEC, snapping their own three-game losing streak with a balanced and efficient performance.
From the opening tip, the Sooners found themselves playing from behind, as they never managed to take the lead throughout the contest. South Carolina exploded out of the gate, scoring the game's first 11 points—all courtesy of forward Elijah Strong. The junior forward wasted no time asserting himself, knocking down a short jumper on the initial possession before draining three consecutive 3-pointers in the first 2½ minutes.
This blistering start propelled the Gamecocks to a commanding 28-14 advantage with 7:46 remaining in the first half. The Sooners responded with resilience, mounting a strong 22-9 run to close the gap significantly.
By halftime, the score stood at 39-36 in favor of South Carolina, thanks to an EJ Walker basket off an offensive rebound at the buzzer that provided a three-point cushion. Despite the momentum shift, OU could not overcome the early deficit or South Carolina's continued offensive pressure.
In the second half, the Gamecocks quickly extended their lead once again, opening with a 12-5 spurt to push the margin to double digits. Oklahoma briefly trimmed the deficit to five points on a Xzayvier Brown 3-pointer followed by a Nijel Pack basket via a goaltending call, but that proved to be the closest they would get for the remainder of the game.
South Carolina maintained control, capitalizing on better shooting efficiency and key contributions from multiple players.
The Sooners' struggles from beyond the arc continued to plague them for the second straight outing. After converting only 6 of 24 (25%) against No. 18 Alabama in a narrow loss on Saturday, OU went just 5 for 27 (19%) from 3-point range against the Gamecocks.
In contrast, South Carolina shot an impressive 9 for 20 (45%) from deep, helping them maintain separation. Additionally, the Gamecocks outscored Oklahoma 18-11 in points off turnovers, exploiting defensive lapses and transition opportunities.
On the offensive side for OU, junior guard Xzayvier Brown led all scorers with a game-high 22 points, marking his seventh performance of 20 or more points in the last 10 games. Brown was highly active across the stat sheet, contributing six rebounds, three assists, a career-high three blocked shots, and two steals. His versatility and scoring consistency have been one of the few bright spots during the team's rough patch.
Senior forward Tae Davis delivered a season-high 20 points, adding three rebounds and three assists to his efficient night. Sophomore forward Derrion Reid provided solid support with 11 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field and a game-high-tying seven rebounds, showing his value on both ends of the floor.
Other notable performances included sixth-year guard Jadon Jones, who was held scoreless (0 for 4) but made an impact defensively with five rebounds, three blocks, and four steals—his second consecutive game with four thefts. He has also tallied seven blocks over the last two contests.
Fellow guard Nijel Pack, entering the game ranked fourth in the SEC in 3-pointers made per game (3.2) and 3-point percentage (.432), endured an off night, going 0 for 7 from deep and finishing 3 for 13 overall with nine points.
South Carolina's balanced attack featured all five starters in double figures, led by Meechie Johnson (20 points, including 13 of 15 from the free-throw line) and Kobe Knox (18 points). Elijah Strong added 17 points after his hot start, while Miles Stute and Mike Sharavjamts each contributed 10.
The loss drops Oklahoma to 5-2 in the all-time series against South Carolina and 2-2 in games played in Columbia.
UP NEXT: The Sooners now turn their attention to a quick turnaround, returning to action on Saturday against Missouri at 1 p.m. CT.
That matchup, set for Mizzou Arena, will be broadcast on ESPN2 as OU looks to snap their skid and regain momentum in a challenging SEC schedule.