MENS BASKETBALL
Oklahoma 96, Missouri 84
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NORMAN, Okla. - Freshman guard Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high 31 points and Oklahoma defeated No. 15 Missouri 96-84 on Wednesday night to boost its NCAA Tournament hopes.
It was Oklahoma’s fifth win over a Top 25 team this season, and Missouri was the highest ranked among them. The Sooners (18-12, 5-12 Southeastern Conference) were coming off losses to ranked opponents Kentucky and Ole Miss by a combined four points.
Mark Mitchell scored 18 points and Caleb Grill added 16 points and eight rebounds for Missouri (21-9, 10-7), which has lost three of four.
Missouri thumped Oklahoma 82-58 on Feb. 12, but Oklahoma shot 69% from the field in the first half of the rematch to take a 50-37 lead into the break. It was the Sooners' highest-scoring opening half of the season.
Oklahoma senior Sam Godwin scored 12 points on Senior Night before getting injured with 5:32 left in the first half. He did not return. He sat on the bench in the second half with a large bag of ice wrapped around his right knee and a brace on the leg.
Missouri’s T.O. Barrett committed a flagrant 1 foul against Fears, and he made both free throws to put Oklahoma ahead 63-45.
THE TAKEAWAY
Missouri: The Tigers gave up at least 90 points for the fourth time in five games.
Oklahoma: The Sooners committed just four turnovers in the first half and nine overall. They had averaged 12.6 per game — 12th in the 16-team SEC.
KEY MOMENT
Fears drove the length of the floor for a layup, scored and was fouled with 47 seconds remaining. He made the free throw to put the Sooners ahead 92-78.
KEY STAT
The Sooners made 25 of 26 free throws, including 19 of 20 in the second half.
March 5, 2025