Sooners squander late lead as Razorbacks surge, Nijel Pack's heroics weren't enough in a heart-stopping loss extending Oklahoma's skid
NORMAN, Okla. - In a heart-wrenching finish at Lloyd Noble Center, the Oklahoma Sooners nearly pulled off a stunning upset against the No. 15 Arkansas Razorbacks but ultimately fell short, dropping an 83-79 decision on Tuesday night. The loss extended Oklahoma's skid to seven consecutive games, highlighting the challenges the team faces in its second season in the Southeastern Conference.
The Sooners (11-10 overall, 1-7 in SEC play) battled fiercely throughout, taking a lead with just over a minute remaining thanks to a clutch performance from veteran guard Nijel Pack.
With 1:25 left on the clock, Pack drained a deep 28-foot three-pointer from straight away, giving OU a 79-77 advantage. It marked a season-high tying six three-pointers for Pack on 11 attempts, showcasing his hot shooting stroke after a recent slump. However, those proved to be Oklahoma's final points of the night, as Arkansas mounted a decisive comeback in the closing moments.
The Razorbacks (16-5, 6-2 SEC) responded immediately, with freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. sinking a free throw at the 1:01 mark to tie the score. Acuff then delivered again with 21 seconds remaining, scoring a basket and adding the ensuing free throw to put Arkansas ahead 81-79.
In a desperate bid to force overtime or win it, OU guard Xzayvier Brown drove for a point-blank attempt, but Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile rejected the shot emphatically. Following the block and a defensive rebound, the Sooners were forced to foul freshman Meleek Thomas, who calmly converted both ends of a one-and-one to ice the game and secure the victory for the visitors.
Arkansas dominated inside the paint, shooting an impressive 72% (33-for-46) on two-point attempts, which offset their cold night from beyond the arc (just 2-for-17, 12%). Overall, the Razorbacks converted 56% from the field—the highest mark by any OU opponent since Nebraska's performance back on November 15. They also protected the ball exceptionally well, committing only six turnovers compared to Oklahoma's 12, and capitalized with a 15-8 edge in points off turnovers.
For the Sooners, Pack led all scorers with a game-high 22 points, continuing his strong recent form. After struggling mightily from deep in losses to Alabama and South Carolina (2-for-17 combined), he has caught fire, knocking down 11 threes on 19 attempts (58%) over the past two outings.
Supporting him were four other Sooners in double figures: Tae Davis with 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists; Xzayvier Brown adding 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists; and Derrion Reid contributing 12 points and six boards.
Center Mohamed Wague delivered one of his best performances in weeks, posting nine points, a game-high 12 rebounds (including six on the offensive glass), and a team-leading four assists—tying his career high in dimes.
On the Arkansas side, Acuff Jr. was masterful, finishing with 21 points and a game-high nine assists while playing all 36 minutes without a single turnover—a remarkable display of poise and efficiency.
Thomas chipped in 16 points and four rebounds to round out the key contributors for the Razorbacks, who have now won three straight games.
The first half saw Oklahoma control much of the action, as they poured in their highest-scoring opening period of SEC play this season. The Sooners built a 48-44 halftime lead, outrebounding Arkansas 8-3 on the offensive end and attempting seven more field goals overall.
Pack was electric early, scoring 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting (4-for-6 from three), while Reid added 10 points in the first 8:15 of play.
Oklahoma surged ahead with a 14-2 run to lead 38-25 midway through the half, though Arkansas answered with bursts of their own, including a 7-0 response and later an 8-0 spurt to stay within striking distance.
The second half told a different story. Oklahoma's shooting cooled dramatically to just 36%, while Arkansas heated up to 50% from the field. Despite winning the rebounding battle 34-31 overall, the Sooners couldn't overcome the Razorbacks' interior dominance and ability to finish possessions without mistakes.
This defeat underscores the growing pains for Oklahoma under head coach Porter Moser as they navigate the rugged SEC landscape. The team has shown flashes of potential—particularly in their home performances and Pack's scoring outbursts—but closing out tight games remains an ongoing challenge.
UP NEXT: The Sooners now turn their attention to another home contest on Saturday, hosting Texas (12-8, 3-4 SEC) at 1 p.m. CT.
The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN2, offering Oklahoma a chance to snap their losing streak in front of their home crowd and build momentum moving forward in conference play.