Oklahoma Rallies in Overtime to Defeat Colorado in College Basketball Crown

The Sooners overcame a late collapse to earn a hard-fought victory and advance to the semifinals.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:51am

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In a thrilling quarterfinal matchup of the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas, the Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 90-86 in overtime. The Sooners had built a 7-point lead late in regulation, but Colorado scored 7 unanswered points to force overtime. Oklahoma regrouped in the extra period, led by Nijel Pack's 6 points, to secure the victory and a spot in the semifinals.

Why it matters

This win marks an important milestone for the Oklahoma program under coach Porter Moser, who is seeking his second postseason victory (not counting conference tournaments) in his five-year tenure. The Sooners' ability to regroup and prevail in overtime after squandering a late lead demonstrates their resilience and competitive spirit as they continue their quest for the College Basketball Crown title.

The details

Oklahoma trailed by 4 at halftime but chipped away at the deficit in the second half, taking a 74-67 lead with 1:41 remaining. However, Colorado scored 7 unanswered points to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, the Sooners outscored the Buffaloes 16-12, with Nijel Pack leading the way with 6 points on two 3-pointers. Tae Davis added 4 points, and Xzayvier Brown made crucial free throws down the stretch to seal the victory for Oklahoma.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 2, 2026 in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.
  • Oklahoma and Colorado were former Big 12 rivals.

The players

Porter Moser

The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, who is seeking his second postseason win (not counting conference tournaments) during his five-year tenure.

Nijel Pack

The Oklahoma guard who scored a team-high 20 points, including 6 in overtime, to lead the Sooners to victory.

Tae Davis

The Oklahoma forward who added 4 points in overtime to help the Sooners secure the win.

Xzayvier Brown

The Oklahoma guard who made crucial free throws in the final seconds to ice the game for the Sooners.

Barrington Hargress

The Colorado guard who scored a game-high 31 points, including 15 from the free-throw line, in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We had to regroup and stay focused after letting that lead slip away. I'm proud of the way our guys responded in overtime to get the job done.”

— Porter Moser, Head Coach, Oklahoma Sooners

What’s next

The Oklahoma Sooners will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Minnesota and Baylor in the semifinals of the College Basketball Crown on Saturday, April 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory showcases the Sooners' resilience and ability to overcome adversity, as they rallied from a late collapse to earn an overtime win and advance to the semifinals of the prestigious College Basketball Crown tournament.