Oklahoma defeats Georgia as 14 made three-pointers and second-half defense decide Norman matchup

Hot perimeter shooting fuels Oklahoma’s win

Oklahoma defeated Georgia after turning an unusually efficient night from three-point range into a decisive edge. The Sooners made 14 of 25 shots from beyond the arc (56%), a rate that shaped both the scoring margin and the way Georgia was forced to defend. Oklahoma also finished 59% from the field overall, pairing perimeter accuracy with high-percentage looks inside the arc.

Forward Kuol Atak led the long-range surge by making six of seven three-point attempts. Guard Nijel Pack added four threes on six tries, while forward Tae Davis paced Oklahoma in scoring with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

Game swung after a tight first half

Despite Oklahoma’s efficiency, the game remained close at halftime, with the Sooners trailing by two. Georgia’s offense operated at a high level early, shooting 70.8% from the field in the first half. The Bulldogs also went 4-of-9 from three before the break and held a 14-9 rebounding advantage over the opening 20 minutes.

The second half produced a stark contrast. Oklahoma’s defensive pressure and improved execution limited Georgia’s rhythm and shot quality, particularly in the half court, where the Bulldogs faced more contested attempts and fewer clean perimeter looks.

Second-half defense closes the door

Georgia’s shooting dropped to 38.2% in the second half. From three-point range, the Bulldogs went 28.6% after halftime, a shift that reduced their ability to match Oklahoma’s scoring bursts from the perimeter.

For Oklahoma, the combination of sustained three-point volume and accuracy created separation even as the game’s pace and shot distribution changed. When the Sooners continued to convert from outside while also finishing efficiently on two-point attempts, Georgia’s early rebounding advantage and first-half shot-making became less impactful.

What the numbers show

• Oklahoma: 14-of-25 (56%) from three; 59% from the field overall.
• Georgia (first half): 70.8% shooting; 4-of-9 from three; +5 in rebounds (14-9).
• Georgia (second half): 38.2% shooting; 28.6% from three.

Oklahoma’s perimeter efficiency was the defining statistical separator, while the defensive turnaround after halftime changed the quality and consistency of Georgia’s offense.

The result continued a recent pattern in which three-point variance and second-half defensive execution play an outsized role in shaping outcomes, particularly when one team can sustain both high-volume perimeter attempts and efficient finishing inside.