Las Vegas, NV — Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball came within reach of a historic postseason breakthrough but fell short in an 89–82 overtime loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers men’s basketball in the College Basketball Crown title game at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.
Oklahoma showed resilience throughout the contest. After digging into an early 15-point deficit, the Sooners surged ahead late in the first half and carried a 41–37 advantage into the break. Their momentum continued into the second half, where they built a seven-point lead with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.
West Virginia, however, refused to fade. With time winding down, Oklahoma needed a clutch driving layup from Tae Davis with 12.6 seconds left to even the score at 76 and push the game into overtime.
The Sooners appeared to seize control early in the extra period. Back-to-back free throws and a runner from Nijel Pack, combined with another inside finish by Davis, gave Oklahoma an 82–76 cushion with just over three minutes left. But that advantage quickly unraveled.
A missed rebound opportunity opened the door for West Virginia, which responded with a three-pointer. Moments later, a blocked Oklahoma shot led to a transition basket and another three that tied the game. The Mountaineers then buried a third straight shot from beyond the arc to take the lead for good with 1:23 remaining, while the Sooners went cold, missing their final five attempts.
Pack led Oklahoma with 24 points and seven assists, continuing an impressive tournament stretch that earned him all-tournament honors. Davis added 19 points along with six rebounds, while Xzayvier Brown contributed 13 points and four assists.
West Virginia’s hot shooting from deep proved decisive. The Mountaineers knocked down 15 three-pointers and built their early lead behind a barrage from long range, including a perfect 5-for-5 stretch from senior guard Honor Huff.
Oklahoma responded with a dominant 25–4 run in the first half, fueled by efficient shooting and key contributions from the bench. Jadon Jones capped his collegiate career with nine points, hitting all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, while Kai Rogers provided a spark inside with six points and eight rebounds.
Despite the comeback effort, turnovers and perimeter defense hurt the Sooners. Oklahoma committed 14 turnovers, which West Virginia converted into a significant scoring edge, and the Mountaineers finished with a decisive advantage from three-point range.
The loss ends Oklahoma’s season at 21–16, marking its third consecutive 20-win campaign, while West Virginia closed its year at 21–14 with the championship victory.
