AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — In a raucous Frank Erwin Center that saw 14 lead changes and a furious final-minute comeback, the Oklahoma Sooners exacted revenge on their archrival, outlasting the Texas Longhorns 88-85 in overtime Saturday in a pivotal Southeastern Conference men’s basketball clash.

The victory, witnessed by 11,315 fans, avenged a 10-point home loss to Texas just over a month ago and bolstered Oklahoma’s postseason resume, moving the Sooners to 17-13 overall. Texas fell to 18-13, its hopes for a higher NCAA tournament seed taking a hit in a game it led for over 32 minutes.

The contest was a showcase for two of the league’s premier guards, with Oklahoma’s Nijel Pack and Texas’s Jordan Pope trading monumental shots down the stretch. But it was the Sooners’ supporting cast that made the decisive plays in the extra period.

Oklahoma, which trailed 40-36 at halftime, found its offensive rhythm in the second half behind Pack and backcourt mate Xzayvier Brown. The duo combined for 44 points, with Pack, a guard from Indianapolis, scoring 23 and Brown, from Philadelphia, adding 21. Their penetration and shot-making kept the Sooners afloat as Texas threatened to pull away multiple times.

Texas was powered by a stellar all-around performance from forward Dailyn Swain. The Columbus, Ohio, native played 41 minutes, scoring 18 points and dishing out eight assists while anchoring the Longhorns’ defense. Pope, from Oakley, California, led all scorers with a game-high 30 points, including six three-pointers, several from well beyond the arc.

The game’s defining sequence came in the final 30 seconds of regulation. Trailing 77-74, Oklahoma’s Mohamed Wague, a forward from the Bronx, New York, converted an alley-oop from Brown with 38 seconds left to cut the deficit to one. After Texas’s Tramon Mark hit two free throws to push the lead back to three, the Sooners worked for a final shot.

With three seconds remaining, Oklahoma’s Xzayvier Brown was fouled by Texas’s Jordan Pope on a three-point attempt. Brown calmly sank all three free throws, tying the game at 77 and sending the stunned home crowd into silence. Pope’s desperation half-court heave at the buzzer missed, forcing overtime.

The extra period belonged to Oklahoma’s resilience. Texas struck first on a Pope jumper, but the Sooners responded with a layup from Derrion Reid and critical free throws from Pack. With Oklahoma clinging to an 84-82 lead, Texas had a chance to tie or take the lead, but a missed free throw and a turnover proved costly.

Oklahoma sealed the game at the foul line. With two seconds left in overtime and Oklahoma leading 86-85, Texas’s Chendall Weaver fouled Nijel Pack, who sank both free throws. Texas’s final attempt, a three-pointer from Tramon Mark as time expired, was off the mark.

Beyond the star guards, Oklahoma received crucial contributions from its frontcourt. Reid, a forward from Grovetown, Georgia, scored 11 points, including a key three-pointer in overtime. Tae Davis of Indianapolis and Wague each added eight points, with Wague’s energy on the glass and defensive presence proving vital.

For Texas, the 7-foot Lithuanian center Matas Vokietaitis provided 14 points and a strong interior presence, while Mark finished with 17 points. But the Longhorns were ultimately undone by 15 turnovers and an inability to secure key defensive stops in the final minutes of regulation and in overtime.

The game was a tense, physical affair typical of the rivalry, with both teams shooting nearly identical percentages from the field. Oklahoma’s ability to force turnovers and convert them into 19 points, compared to Texas’s 12 points off turnovers, provided a slim but decisive margin.

The win gives Oklahoma momentum heading into the SEC tournament, demonstrating an ability to win a close game on the road against a quality opponent. For Texas, the loss represents a missed opportunity to solidify its standing and adds pressure as the postseason begins.