NORMAN, Okla. | South Alabama men's basketball was unable to hold off Oklahoma late, as the Sooners recorded a come-from-behind victory Friday evening at the Lloyd Noble Center, winning 64-60.
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Isaiah Moore led the Jags in points for the third straight game with 25, and the Jaguars (1-3) held a 12-point lead in the first half.
Tyrell Jones (12) and
Kevin Samuel (11) also scored in double figures. The Sooners (3-1) had eight different scorers to South's five and held the Jaguars to zero points over the final 5:18 of the game to claim the victory.
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Grant Sherfield was the top scorer for Oklahoma with 17 points, and Tanner Groves contributed a double-double, scoring 15 points and securing 11 rebounds.
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GAME FACTS (HOW IT HAPPENED)
- South jumped out to an 11-2 lead, punctuated by a 3-pointer from Greg Parham II, forcing Oklahoma to call a timeout at 15:52.
- The Jaguar defense forced three turnovers and held the Sooners to 4-of-14 shooting in the first eight and a half minutes of the game.
- Oklahoma used an 8-0 run to get within one, but a couple baskets by Samuel kept the Jaguars in the lead, 17-14, at the 9:30 mark.
- Moore was the first player to reach double figures, scoring his 10th point at the 7:42 mark to put the Jags up 19-14.
- Back-to-back three-pointers, one by Tyrell Jones and one by Judah Brown, extended the lead to nine, 25-16 with 6:00 left in the first half.
- Parham's second three of the first half put the Jags up by 12, 31-19, with four minutes to go in the half.
- The Sooners went on an 11-0 run, but Jones hit two free throws with 30 seconds left to keep the Jags up at the end of the first half, 33-30.
- The Sooners took their first lead, 34-33, at the 17:38 mark in the second half.
- The teams continued to go back-and-forth, with Oklahoma holding a 46-44 lead at the 12:25 mark.
- Moore surpassed the 20-point mark for the second straight game with 9:46 to go.
- A fast-break layup by Moore off a steal by Parham tied the score at 56 with 8:20 left in the game.
- The Jaguars retook the lead, 58-56, on a Jones layup with 6:20 to go.
- Judah Brown stole the ball with the Jags down by two with 24 seconds left, but Oklahoma's Jacob Groves blocked Owen White's layup attempt to maintain their lead.
- Grant Sherfield hit two free throws at the :18 mark to seal the victory.
- The Sooners scored eight points in the final 4:13 and held the Jaguars scoreless over the final 5:18 of the game.
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NOTES
- This was the second time the Jags led at halftime this season.
- The Jags went 4-of-11 from beyond the arc in the first half while holding the Sooners to 0-of-6.
- Jones tied his season-high of ten points in the first half.
- The Jaguars did not trail in the first half for the second time this season (vs. Mobile).
- Moore's point total (25) is the highest for a South Alabama player this season. He has now led the team in scoring in three straight games.
- South Alabama was out-rebounded for the second straight game.
- The Jags held their opponent to their lowest 3-point percentage so far this season (17.6%).
- Samuel was one rebound shy of his second double-double of the season.
- Parham led the team in assists with three.
- Each of South Alabama's five starters played over 30 minutes in the game.
- This is the first game that South has lost when leading by 10+ since 1/8/21 vs. Coastal Carolina.
- Each team scored 36 points in the paint.
- The Jaguars have shot fewer free throws than their opponents in each of the four games this season.
UP NEXT
The Jags travel to Savannah, Ga. to take part in the Hostilo Hoops Community Classic, where they will go against Evansville, Towson and Robert Morris. Their first opponent is Evansville, and tip-off is at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening. The games of the Hostilo Hoops Community Classic are available to stream on Event Live+.
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FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama men's basketball, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaMBB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaMBB (Facebook), @southalabamambb (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.
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