OU Basketball Edges Colorado in OT Thriller at College Basketball Crown

Nijel Pack's clutch 3-pointers in overtime lift Sooners to 90-86 win over Buffaloes in quarterfinals

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:05am

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In a high-scoring affair, the Oklahoma Sooners outlasted the Colorado Buffaloes 90-86 in overtime to advance to the semifinals of the College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas. Nijel Pack scored 20 points, including a pair of crucial 3-pointers in the extra period, to lead the Sooners. Despite missing three of their top scorers, Colorado fought valiantly, with Barrington Hargress pouring in a season-high 31 points.

Why it matters

This thrilling quarterfinal matchup showcased the depth and competitiveness of the College Basketball Crown tournament, as two teams battled down to the wire despite key player absences. The win keeps Oklahoma's tournament hopes alive, while Colorado's valiant effort demonstrates the program's resilience in the face of adversity.

The details

Oklahoma trailed for much of the game, but a late surge in the second half tied the score at 82-82 to force overtime. In the extra period, Nijel Pack hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers to give the Sooners the lead, and they held on for the 90-86 victory. Colorado's Barrington Hargress had a standout performance, scoring a season-high 31 points, but his late missed free throw proved costly.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 2, 2026 in Las Vegas.
  • Oklahoma and Colorado were meeting in the opening round of the College Basketball Crown tournament.
  • The Sooners will advance to play the winner of Baylor-Minnesota in Saturday's semifinals.

The players

Nijel Pack

A key player for the Oklahoma Sooners, scoring 20 points and hitting two crucial 3-pointers in overtime to lead his team to victory.

Barrington Hargress

The standout performer for Colorado, scoring a season-high 31 points in the losing effort.

Xzayvier Brown

An Oklahoma player who hit two free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win for the Sooners.

Kuol Atak

The Oklahoma player who grabbed a key rebound and hit two free throws to put the game away for the Sooners.

Ian Inman

A Colorado player who missed a jumper in the closing seconds of regulation that could have won the game for the Buffaloes.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough game against a quality opponent like Colorado. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and made the plays we needed to win this close one.”

— Lon Kruger, Oklahoma Head Coach

“It's tough to come up short like that, but I'm really proud of the fight our team showed tonight. We had our chances, but Oklahoma made the plays down the stretch to get the win.”

— Tad Boyle, Colorado Head Coach

What’s next

Oklahoma will face the winner of the Baylor-Minnesota matchup in the semifinals of the College Basketball Crown tournament on Saturday.

The takeaway

This thrilling overtime battle between Oklahoma and Colorado demonstrated the high level of competition and drama in the College Basketball Crown tournament. Despite key absences, both teams showcased their resilience and talent, providing an exciting glimpse of the future stars of college basketball.