NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a rematch of a January thriller, the Oklahoma Sooners exacted revenge with a commanding offensive display, defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 86-74 in a Southeastern Conference tournament game Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena.

The game, played before a crowd of 10,701, was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting, which South Carolina won by nine points on its home floor. This time, Oklahoma’s efficiency and firepower proved too much, as the Sooners shot a blistering 60% from the field and 44% from three-point range to pull away in the second half.

The contest was tied 42-42 at halftime, but Oklahoma seized control with a 44-point second-half outburst. The Sooners’ offensive rating of 135.5 on 63 possessions underscored a nearly flawless performance with the ball, while South Carolina, despite a valiant effort, could not match that efficiency, posting a 110.3 offensive rating on 67 trips.

The most important part of the game was Oklahoma’s decisive run to start the second half, which shifted the momentum permanently. After the break, the Sooners scored on six of their first seven possessions, igniting a 14-6 surge over the first four and a half minutes. The burst was fueled by Nijel Pack, who hit a pair of three-pointers during the stretch, and Mohamed Wague, who contributed a three-point play. This turned a deadlocked game into a 56-48 Oklahoma lead, and South Carolina never got closer than five points the rest of the way. The Gamecocks, forced to chase, could not string together enough stops to mount a serious comeback against the scorching Sooners.

Pack, a guard from Indianapolis, was the catalyst for Oklahoma, leading all scorers with 24 points and adding five assists in 30 minutes. He set the tone early with a three-pointer on the game’s first possession and was instrumental in the second-half surge. He was supported by a balanced attack as Derrion Reid scored 20 points, Tae Davis added 18 and Xzayvier Brown chipped in 14.

South Carolina was led by Kobe Knox, who scored 20 points and dished out five assists. Mike Sharavjamts, from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, added 19 points, and Meechie Johnson finished with 14 points and four assists. The Gamecocks struggled to generate consistent offense outside of their top performers, managing only four total assists as a team and shooting just 41% from the field.

Oklahoma dominated key statistical areas, outscoring South Carolina 36-22 in the paint and converting 15 Gamecock turnovers into 18 points. The Sooners also shared the ball effectively, tallying eight steals and eight assists while committing only eight turnovers themselves. South Carolina’s effort on the offensive glass, where they grabbed 12 rebounds, was one of few bright spots but was negated by Oklahoma’s superior shooting.

With the victory, Oklahoma improved its season record to 18-13 and advanced in the conference tournament. The Sooners, who were installed as 8.5-point pregame favorites and had a 79.6% probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, will face Texas A&M on Thursday. South Carolina’s season ends with a record of 13-19. The combined score of 160 points went over the pregame over/under line of 150.