Turnovers proved costly as Oklahoma’s comeback attempt faltered, with Tennessee's defensive pressure leading to a decisive loss
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Oklahoma men's basketball team suffered a tough setback on the road, falling 89-66 to the Tennessee Volunteers on Wednesday night at Food City Center. The loss snapped the Sooners' modest two-game winning streak and highlighted ongoing struggles in Southeastern Conference play, particularly away from home.
Oklahoma entered the contest with a 13-12 overall record and a 3-9 mark in SEC action, dropping to 1-7 in league road games. Meanwhile, Tennessee improved to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in conference play, securing their seventh win in the last eight games and bolstering their stellar 14-1 home record.
The game featured moments of promise for the Sooners, who battled back from an 18-point deficit to trim the margin to just six points with 6:18 left on the clock. However, they were outscored 21-4 over the final stretch, allowing Tennessee to pull away decisively.
Turnovers proved to be Oklahoma's undoing. A squad that typically averaged only 10.0 giveaways per game committed 15 against the Volunteers—the third-highest total of the season. Tennessee capitalized ruthlessly, turning those miscues into 31 points while limiting their own errors to seven. The Vols amassed 10 steals, led by guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie's remarkable career-high (and program-record) eight steals, which disrupted Oklahoma's rhythm throughout the night.
Tennessee dominated several key statistical categories. They shot 52% from the field compared to Oklahoma's 46%, outscored the Sooners 17-7 in second-chance points, and held a commanding 46-18 advantage in points in the paint. Their defensive pressure and transition opportunities were pivotal in maintaining control.
Offensively for Oklahoma, guard Nijel Pack stood out as the primary bright spot. He poured in 20 points on an efficient 7-for-9 shooting from the field, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, and added a perfect 2-for-2 at the free-throw line. This marked his seventh 20-point performance of the season. Over his last seven games, Pack has been scorching, averaging 18.9 points while connecting on 52% of his three-point attempts (27-for-52), providing a consistent scoring threat amid the team's challenges.
Other contributors included Tae Davis, who scored 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting, and Derrion Reid, who added 10 points (mostly from 6-for-8 at the line) along with a team-high six rebounds.
Off the bench, Jadon Jones provided a spark with nine points—his second-highest output in SEC play—while Dayton Forsythe chipped in seven and Kuol Atak three.The first half saw Oklahoma shoot a solid 52% from the field but still trail 45-36 at the break, largely due to being outscored 18-2 off turnovers.
Tennessee opened the second half with an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 53-36, but the Sooners responded impressively with a 9-0 spurt, fueled by Forsythe's traditional three-point play and two free throws, plus a long-range jumper from Jones, cutting it to 56-47.Later, after Tennessee pushed the advantage back to 14, Pack drained back-to-back threes as part of a 16-7 Oklahoma run, bringing the score to 68-62 with just over six minutes remaining.
Unfortunately, the Sooners went scoreless on their next five possessions, enabling Tennessee's decisive 11-0 run to seal the outcome.Injuries and foul trouble compounded Oklahoma's woes.
Starting center Mohamed Wague fouled out after just 10 minutes, forcing freshman Kai Rogers into his most extensive action of the season. Rogers played 16:51, grabbing one rebound and blocking two shots while providing some interior presence.Star guard Xavier Brown, the team's leading scorer entering the game, struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with only five points—his second consecutive single-digit outing after scoring at least 13 in 14 of the prior 15 contests.
For Tennessee, forward Nate Ament delivered a standout performance, matching his career high with 29 points to lead all scorers and pace the Volunteers' balanced attack.
UP NEXT: Looking ahead, the Sooners return home to Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday for the first of two consecutive home games. They will host Texas A&M (18-8, 8-5 SEC) at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The matchup carries added significance, as Oklahoma will honor the 2015-16 Final Four team and retire national player of the year Buddy Hield's No. 24 jersey in a special ceremony.
The game will air on SEC Network, offering fans a chance to celebrate program history while the team aims to rebound and improve their conference standing.