OU men’s basketball (20-15) escaped the College Basketball Crown quarterfinal with a 90-86 overtime win against Colorado (17-16) in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The Sooners improved to 3-2 against non-SEC power conference opponents this season, with their last matchup against Oklahoma State (20-15) on Dec. 13. Despite entering the game as a heavy favorite, with all eight FOX Sports college basketball experts picking the Sooners to make or win the CBC championship, the rust showed early. Colorado built a lead of as many as 10 points in the first half before OU rallied with a 6-0 run to close the period and trail 41-37 at halftime.
Porter Moser’s group had not played in more than two weeks after bowing out of the SEC Tournament in the quarterfinals on March 13 and missing the NCAA Tournament. Still, the Sooners were eager to build on a strong late-season stretch, going 7-3 while outscoring opponents by an average of 6.5 points per game.
The comeback effort was fueled by both defense and a key contribution off the bench.
OU needed a spark off the bench in the wake of sophomore guard Dayton Forsythe’s absence due to a season-ending surgery. Freshman forward Kuol Atak stepped up with 16 points, three rebounds, a block and a steal in a career high 27 minutes, providing the game’s most impactful performance. The Sooners are now 12-5 when receiving at least a 10-point performance off the bench, with Atak contributing to five of those wins.
OU’s defense bolstered the offensive surge after halftime by holding the Buffaloes to just 24% shooting after they lit up the first half, shooting 53.6%. The Sooners were able to convert defense into a quick offense, posting two major scoring runs of 7-0 and 10-0 while adding six points off turnovers in the second half. A late foul by senior center Mohamed Wague allowed Colorado to stay within reach, but OU maintained control despite 28 points from Colorado junior guard Barrington Hargress.
On the other end of the floor, OU leaned on its most consistent duo to close out the game with the season on the line in overtime.
Redshirt senior guard Nijel Pack continued his late-season surge, leading OU with 20 points. He is averaging 21.5 points over his last five games, giving the Sooners a reliable first option offensively. Pack scored six points in overtime, while junior guard Xzayvier Brown added, including the go-ahead and game-sealing free throws.
With the win, OU improved to 3-1 in postseason play and 2-1 in overtime games this season. The Sooners also secured at least a $50,000 NIL package, with $100,000 and $300,000 packages still available with semifinal and championship wins.
Next, OU faces the winner of Baylor (16-16) vs. Minnesota (15-17) in the CBC semifinals at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Las Vegas on FOX.
This story was edited by Laurie Jones.
