Nijel Pack reaches 2,007 career points, but 17 turnovers and late drought lead to Oklahoma's road defeat
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Oklahoma suffered a tough 83-76 road defeat against Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon at Reed Arena.
After building a 67-63 lead midway through the second half, the Sooners were outscored 20-9 over the final stretch, dropping to 11-5 overall and 1-2 in Southeastern Conference play.
Meanwhile, the Aggies improved to 13-3 and 3-0 in the SEC, extending their winning streak to six games and claiming victory in 11 of their last 12 outings.
The game highlighted Oklahoma's usual strength in ball security turned into a major liability. Coming in averaging a league-low 9.5 turnovers per game, the Sooners committed a season-high 17 against Texas A&M's aggressive defense.
Those miscues proved costly, as the Aggies capitalized with 18 points off turnovers compared to OU's 8.
Additionally, Texas A&M held a clear edge at the free-throw line, converting 21-of-25 (84%) while the Sooners went 13-of-16 (81%), resulting in an eight-point difference from the stripe that loomed large in the close contest.
Despite the loss, Nijel Pack delivered a standout performance for Oklahoma, leading all scorers with 24 points — his highest total in the last 12 games.
The veteran guard, who surpassed the 2,000-career-point milestone (now at 2,007 across his time at Kansas State, Miami, and Oklahoma), drained a season-high six 3-pointers on 13 attempts. He also contributed a season-high-tying six rebounds and matched the game high with five assists, showcasing his all-around impact even in defeat.
Oklahoma's frontcourt provided solid support with a pair of double-doubles. Forward Derrion Reid recorded the first double-double of his career, pouring in 19 points and grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds (three more than his previous high).
Reid was particularly sharp from deep, hitting a personal-best four 3-pointers on just six attempts. Teammate Tae Davis added another double-double with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 10 rebounds, helping the Sooners dominate the glass overall with a 43-32 rebounding advantage and an 18-7 edge in second-chance points.
However, the Sooners couldn't get consistent production from all areas. Junior guard Xzayvier Brown, who had been on a tear averaging 19.7 points on 55% shooting over the previous six games, struggled significantly.
He finished just 3-of-9 from the field for seven points, limiting one of OU's key offensive weapons on the day.The game featured plenty of back-and-forth action and 19 lead changes.
Oklahoma started strong, scoring the first five points of the contest, but Texas A&M responded to build a 33-23 lead with under eight minutes left in the first half.
The Sooners fought back fiercely with a 20-10 run, tying the score at 43-43 with 1:08 remaining before a late Aggie 3-pointer sent the teams to the locker room with Texas A&M ahead 48-45.
The second half opened with Oklahoma catching fire again.
Pack knocked down a 3-pointer, Reid added two more triples, and the Sooners quickly reclaimed the lead at 54-53.
Brown's acrobatic layup and subsequent free throw extended the advantage to 67-63 with 10:23 left, but the momentum shifted dramatically from there.
Oklahoma went ice-cold, shooting just 4-of-14 (29%) from the field over the remainder of the game and missing their final 10 3-point attempts after a hot start of 11-of-21 from beyond the arc.
Both teams shot 42% from the field overall, but Texas A&M's ability to force turnovers, hit free throws, and close strong proved decisive in securing the victory.
The Aggies received balanced scoring, with Rashaun Agee leading the way via a double-double (reports noted around 16 points and 12 rebounds), and multiple players reaching double figures.
UP NEXT: With the loss marking their second straight defeat, the Sooners now turn their attention to a quick return home.
Oklahoma will host defending national champion Florida on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT inside Lloyd Noble Center.
The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN2, offering the Sooners a prime opportunity to bounce back in front of their home crowd and regain momentum in SEC competition.