University of Oklahoma Athletics
University of Oklahoma
13-4,0-4SEC
Texas
12-5,1-3SEC
Sooners' Comeback Bid Falls Short Against Texas
January 15, 2025 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN – Oklahoma nearly erased a 23-point deficit but fell short in a 77-73 loss to Texas on Wednesday night at Lloyd Noble Center.
Senior forward Jalon Moore scored a career-high 29 points, including 26 in the second half, to lead the Sooners (13-4, 0-4 SEC). Freshman guard Jeremiah Fears added 20 points, but Texas (12-5, 1-3 SEC) held on behind Jordan Pope's 27 points and perfect 6-of-6 performance at the free throw line.
Texas built an early advantage, with Pope's 3-pointer at the 10:24 mark of the first half pushing the Longhorns' lead to 22-12. Texas extended its advantage to 43-27 by halftime, powered by 10 points each from Tramon Mark and Tre Johnson.
The Longhorns opened the second half on a 10-3 run to extend their lead to 53-30, but Oklahoma answered with a 23-3 surge from the 15:32 to 7:45 marks to trim the deficit to 56-53 in front of a boisterous crowd. During one second-half stretch, Moore scored 19 of OU's 22 points.
The Sooners came within two points in the final seconds, but a late Texas layup sealed the victory.
Moore finished 9 of 13 from the field and added a game-high eight rebounds and a block. He was 1 for 5 from the floor in the first half but 8 for 8 in the second, including three 3-pointers. Fears contributed five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Senior forward Glenn Taylor Jr. came off the bench to contribute seven points, two rebounds, a season-high-tying three assists and a career-high four steals in 24 minutes.
Oklahoma is the only team in the country with four players who have each scored at least 29 points in at least one game this season: Moore tonight, Fears vs. Michigan (30), Duke Miles vs. Central Arkansas (29) and Brycen Goodine vs. Texas A&M (34).
More than 20 NBA scouts watched Oklahoma shoot 51.0% from the field, including 70.0% in the second half. Texas hit 48.3% of its shots on the night.
The Sooners return to action Saturday, hosting South Carolina (10-7, 0-4 SEC) at Lloyd Noble Center. Tip is set for 3 p.m. on ESPNU. Tickets are available for purchase.
