In the world of college basketball, the Oklahoma Sooners are having a bit of a tough time in SEC play, hitting their third consecutive roadblock with a 72-62 loss to Georgia. Facing a red-hot Georgia team with 13 straight home wins, the Sooners have fallen to a rocky 0-3 start in the conference. Saturday’s showdown at a buzzing Stegeman Coliseum was no exception.
Leading the charge for the Sooners, senior forward Jalon Moore showcased his skills with an impressive 17 points and nine rebounds. Postgame, Moore emphasized the importance of unity and reflection, underscoring the need to analyze both the good and bad from the Georgia game to prepare for their next battle against Texas.
Offensively, Oklahoma struggled with just 38% shooting from the floor, highlighted by a rough 7-for-27 from downtown. The second half was particularly challenging as Georgia outpaced them 39-26, exploiting every opportunity.
Brycen Goodine, who was a scoring machine against Texas A&M with 34 points, found himself cooled off with only three points on a tough 1-for-7 night from beyond the arc against Georgia. Meanwhile, Oklahoma stuck with their tried-and-tested lineup for the 16th consecutive game, yet saw mixed results. Sam Godwin managed just two points in 14 minutes, contrasting with Mohamed Wague’s standout performance of 10 points in 16 minutes – his best yet in a Sooners uniform. Wague’s increasing presence on the court reflects the team’s need to adapt to taller opponents in the SEC.
Oklahoma’s current challenges unfolded in front of an intriguing audience, including former star guard Trae Young, whose Atlanta Hawks game was postponed. Young watched his former team from behind the bench, undoubtedly wishing them better fortune.
One glaring issue in the loss was the disparity in free-throw attempts. Georgia bossed the charity stripe, taking 37 attempts compared to OU’s meek nine. Coach Porter Moser was visibly frustrated, nearly drawing technicals while voicing his displeasure about a perceived 20 free-throw attempt gap late in the game. Jalon Moore echoed the sentiment, stressing the need to remain aggressive despite the officiating.
Despite the struggles, guards Kobe Elvis and Duke Miles remained bright spots for Oklahoma, combining for 28 points to keep the Sooners in contention. Elvis, alongside his 14 points, dished out five assists, showing his playmaking ability.
However, Jeremiah Fears, the true freshman guard, is battling a slump. After reclassifying to join the Sooners early, Fears’ phenomenal non-conference showing hasn’t translated to SEC play, where his numbers have dipped. His struggle was evident against Georgia, where he managed only two points, on an off 1-for-11 shooting.
Oklahoma will look to rebound from this skid as they prepare to clash with rival Texas next Wednesday at the Lloyd Noble Center – a matchup that promises plenty of high-stakes action and an opportunity for redemption in front of their home crowd. The Longhorns themselves are licking their wounds after a tough defeat to No. 1 Tennessee, setting the stage for an intense battle between two teams eager for a win.
