Oklahoma rallies past South Carolina 86-74 in SEC Tournament opener in Nashville on March 11
Oklahoma advances after second-half edge at Bridgestone Arena
Oklahoma opened its Southeastern Conference (SEC) men’s basketball tournament run with an 86-74 win over South Carolina on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The result moved the 11-seeded Sooners into the next round and ended the 14-seeded Gamecocks’ season.
The game was tied 42-42 at halftime before Oklahoma outscored South Carolina 44-32 over the final 20 minutes. Oklahoma’s shooting efficiency was a defining separator: the Sooners finished at 60% from the field (30-of-50) and 44% from three-point range (11-of-25). South Carolina shot 41% overall (25-of-61) and 38% from beyond the arc (11-of-29).
Key performers and the statistical margin
Oklahoma guard Nijel Pack led all scorers with 24 points and went 5-of-10 from three-point range. South Carolina’s Kobe Knox paced the Gamecocks with 20 points. Oklahoma’s Maliq Wague led the Sooners on the glass with six rebounds, while South Carolina’s Mo Sharavjamts recorded eight rebounds.
Several secondary categories reinforced Oklahoma’s advantage. The Sooners committed eight turnovers to South Carolina’s 11, and Oklahoma led for a larger share of the game. South Carolina won the rebounding battle 34-25, but the extra possessions did not translate into enough scoring to offset Oklahoma’s higher conversion rate.
Halftime: tied 42-42
Final: Oklahoma 86, South Carolina 74
Field goals: Oklahoma 60% (30-50), South Carolina 41% (25-61)
3-pointers: Oklahoma 44% (11-25), South Carolina 38% (11-29)
Turnovers: Oklahoma 8, South Carolina 11
Game flow: from stalemate to separation
With neither team able to create separation in the first half, the contest turned after the break as Oklahoma sustained its offensive rhythm while South Carolina’s scoring pace slowed. Oklahoma’s largest lead reached 17 points, reflecting a second-half stretch in which shot-making and ball security combined to widen the gap.
Oklahoma’s second-half 44 points and efficient perimeter shooting proved decisive after a first-half deadlock.
What it means for both programs
The win improved Oklahoma’s overall record to 18-14 and kept the Sooners alive in the SEC tournament bracket. For South Carolina, the loss closed the year at 13-19. As the SEC tournament continued in Nashville through March 15, Oklahoma moved forward with momentum built on high-percentage offense and a closing kick after halftime.