Buddy Hield's jersey retirement couldn't ignite a win as the Sooners battled Texas A&M, falling below .500 with a tough offensive outing
NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma Sooners hosted Texas A&M in a Southeastern Conference matchup at the Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in a game that carried extra emotional weight.
Before tip-off, the program paid tribute to its storied 2015-16 Final Four team, and in a highlight of the evening, former superstar Buddy Hield saw his No. 24 jersey raised to the rafters during a halftime ceremony. This made Hield the sixth player in OU basketball history to receive such an honor, joining legends like Wayman Tisdale (No. 23), Alvan Adams (No. 33), Mookie Blaylock (No. 10), Stacey King (No. 33), and Blake Griffin (No. 23).
Hield, a consensus National Player of the Year in 2015-16, remains one of the most celebrated figures in Sooners history. The Bahamian native finished his college career as the Big 12's all-time leading scorer and ranks second in OU annals with 2,291 points. His senior season was legendary—he averaged 25.0 points per game while claiming the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, and Oscar Robertson Trophy. Now a 10th-year NBA veteran, Hield returned to Norman for the moment, sharing it with family and fans in an atmosphere filled with nostalgia and pride.
Despite the celebratory vibes, the current Sooners squad couldn't turn the energy into a victory, falling 75-71 to the visiting Aggies. Oklahoma battled back from a nine-point deficit in the final minute, cutting it to one possession, but ultimately came up short against a Texas A&M team that improved to 19-8 overall and 9-5 in SEC play.The Sooners struggled offensively throughout, shooting just 32.8% from the field—their second-lowest mark of the season—and an even colder 25.0% in the second half.
This inefficiency dropped OU to 13-14 on the year and 3-11 in conference action. Texas A&M, by contrast, shot a solid 43.5% overall and dominated the interior, outscoring Oklahoma 32-12 in the paint.Standout performances came from the bench for the Sooners. Sophomore guard Dayton Forsythe had a breakout night, leading the team in both scoring and assists for the first time this season.
Coming off the pine, he poured in 14 points and dished out a game-high six assists (one shy of his career best) across a season-high 29 minutes. Forsythe went 4-for-10 from the field, 2-for-6 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line, providing a spark when the starters faltered.
Super senior center Mohamed Wague also delivered one of his strongest outings, recording 12 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, and two blocks for his fourth double-double in an OU uniform. It marked his highest scoring output in 15 games and most rebounds in 13. Wague shot 3-for-6 from the field and 6-for-8 from the charity stripe, anchoring the glass in a game where Oklahoma held a 44-39 rebounding edge, including a season-high 18 offensive boards in SEC play (leading to 21 second-chance points versus A&M's 14).
Other contributors in double figures included Derrion Reid (11 points, five rebounds) and Xzayvier Brown (10 points, two assists). However, starters Nijel Pack and Tae Davis had rough outings, combining for just 10 points on 3-for-17 shooting, with neither scoring in the first half.The game started slowly for OU, as Texas A&M jumped out to an 8-0 lead.
The Sooners fought back to tie at 19, 21, and 24, but the Aggies—shooting 47.1% in the opening frame and hitting 7-of-14 threes—took a 43-41 halftime advantage.Oklahoma briefly seized control early in the second half when Pack drained his first basket, a three-pointer at the 18:00 mark, for a 44-43 lead. But Texas A&M answered immediately with a trey of their own, igniting a 7-0 run, and never looked back. The Aggies built their lead to 70-61 with 6:16 remaining.
The Sooners mounted a furious late rally, ripping off a 10-2 spurt fueled by six points from Forsythe to close within 72-71 with 26 seconds left. After Texas A&M converted a pair of free throws, Forsythe had a chance to tie it with a three-pointer at 11 seconds, but it rimmed out. The Aggies secured the rebound and sealed the win with one final free throw as time expired.
The loss highlighted ongoing struggles for Oklahoma in SEC competition, but the night belonged to the program's past glory and the enduring legacy of Buddy Hield.
UP NEXT: The Sooners now turn their attention to a home matchup against Auburn (14-12, 5-8 SEC) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT, hoping to build momentum from the rebounding effort and individual bright spots amid a challenging season.