Oklahoma Overcomes Early Deficit, Defeats South Carolina in SEC Tournament Opener

Sooners rally from 13-point hole to win 86-74 and advance to second round

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Oklahoma Sooners overcame an early 13-point deficit to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks 86-74 in the opening round of the SEC Tournament. Led by Nijel Pack's game-high 24 points, including five 3-pointers, the Sooners rallied in the first half and then pulled away in the second half to secure the victory and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Why it matters

Oklahoma's win over South Carolina marks the Sooners' fifth straight victory and their third "retribution" win in a row, as they look to bounce back from a nine-game skid that nearly derailed their season. This victory keeps Oklahoma's slim but growing NCAA Tournament hopes alive as they advance to the second round of the SEC Tournament.

The details

After falling behind by 13 points in the first half, Oklahoma responded with a 19-6 run to close the half and tie the game at 42-42 going into the locker room. In the second half, the Sooners hit the throttle, with Nijel Pack hitting two quick 3-pointers to spark the team. Oklahoma finished the game 11-of-24 from 3-point range, with Pack leading the way with 24 points. Derrion Reid (20 points), Tae Davis (18 points), and Xzayvier Brown (14 points) also contributed to the Sooners' offensive effort.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 12, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The players

Nijel Pack

A key player for the Oklahoma Sooners, who scored a game-high 24 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead his team to victory.

Derrion Reid

An Oklahoma player who scored 20 points in the win over South Carolina.

Tae Davis

An Oklahoma player who scored 18 points in the victory.

Xzayvier Brown

An Oklahoma player who scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the game.

Porter Moser

The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners.

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What they’re saying

“I had to make sure I was going to leave it all out there today, so I had to play as hard as possible.”

— Nijel Pack (SEC Network)

What’s next

Oklahoma will face Texas A&M in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday, March 13, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. CT.

The takeaway

Oklahoma's comeback victory over South Carolina in the SEC Tournament opener showcases the team's resilience and determination to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Sooners' ability to overcome an early double-digit deficit and pull away in the second half demonstrates their growth and development as the season has progressed.