Unranked Oklahoma (12-9) stunned No. 2 Alabama (18-3) on Saturday, defeating the Tide 93-69 at home as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, a 10-game men’s college basketball series of mid-season that includes these two conferences.
With the win, the Sooners snapped Alabama’s nine-game winning streak dating back to mid-December 2022.
Heading into Saturday’s tilt, the Sooners had lost three in a row, but there had been some signs of progress.
The Sooners shot 57.6 percent from the field (34-of-59), including 69.2 percent from distance and 84.2 percent from the free throw line. Sooners guard Grant Sherfield turned in an electric performance, leading Oklahoma with 30 points and a season-high six assists, with Jalen Hill’s career-best 26 points on 9-for-11 shooting.
The Sooners’ defense also played a big factor in Saturday’s upset, as the Tide sank just three of its first 16 shots, helping second-year Oklahoma coach Porter Moser to his biggest win with the program.
On the other end, the Tide struggled mightily, shooting just 37.9% from the field, 27.3% from the 3-point line and 61.9% on free throws. Alabama was led by Rylan Griffen, who had 15 points off the bench. Freshman Brandon Miller, who came in averaging 19.5 points per game, finished with 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting.
Oklahoma led 50-33 at halftime, and it didn’t look like a fluke. Sherfield scored 18 points before halftime and helped the Sooners shoot 68 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes. Hill added 13 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting. The half was punctuated by Hill scoring on a spin move in the final seconds and Miller getting a technical foul.
Alabama cut its deficit to 11 in the second half, but Hill’s layup on a layup pushed Oklahoma’s lead back to 64-46 and fired up the crowd. Sherfield’s crossover and missed 3-pointer put the Sooners ahead 78-53.
Two years ago, Oklahoma beat then-No. 9 Alabama in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge shooting 58% from the field.
Alabama then hosts Vanderbilt (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET) and Oklahoma hosts in-state rival Oklahoma State (Thursday, 9 p.m. ET).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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