OU men's basketball upsets No. 15 Vanderbilt to end nine-game losing streak – OU Daily

OU men’s basketball head coach Porter Moser during the game against Texas on Jan. 31.
OU men’s basketball head coach Porter Moser during the game against Texas on Jan. 31.
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OU men’s basketball snapped its nine-game losing streak with a 92-91 statement win over No. 15 Vanderbilt to claim its second conference and first ranked win of the season.
The Sooners (12-12, 2-9 SEC) entered Saturday’s contest hungry for a win after not winning a game in over a month; their last came on Jan. 3 against Mississippi (11-12, 3-7 SEC). Against the Commodores (19-4, 6-4 SEC), OU flipped the script on a conference season defined by late-game collapses, building an early lead and controlling the game throughout.
The guard trio of junior Xzayvier Brown, senior Nijel Pack and sophomore Dayton Forsythe were the Sooners’ most valuable assets, combining for 49 points. Forsythe added 12 points off the bench, providing a steady scoring lift, helping OU shoot 53% from the field and 43% from 3-point range.
OU erupted for a 13-3 lead to open the game and carried a 48-34 lead into halftime. Senior forward Tae Davis anchored the first half, making plays on both sides of the ball and posting 14 points, four rebounds and a block while consistently attacking the heart of the defense and drawing fouls to help OU grab 10 points from the free throw line. 
While Davis was the lone Sooner in double figures in the first half, the rest of the team put together a solid performance with seven of nine players cashing in from the field. After uneven team performances during conference play, contributions from both starters and the bench fueled OU’s scoring effort on the road. 
The Sooners maintained a steady offense in the second half, with their longest scoring drought lasting just over two minutes. OU added 15 points from beyond the arc and improved its ball security, committing just six turnovers in the second half, following eight in the first half.
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Vanderbilt made several pushes to tighten the game, but OU answered consistently to maintain control. The Commodores rallied from a 19-point deficit to make it a one-possession game in the final minute, before Brown sealed the win at the free-throw line. 
The Sooners’ defense was tested by Vanderbilt’s star sophomore guard Tyler Tanner, who posted 37 points, and sharp-shooting senior forward Tyler Nickel, who added 18 of his own. However, OU’s steady interior scoring combatted the duo’s 55-point effort and helped them claim the victory. OU poured in 40 points in the paint and outmuscled the Commodores inside, winning the paint battle 40-30.
While Saturday’s win alone isn’t enough to launch OU into NCAA Tournament contention, it reinforced that the Sooners have the tools to win every night; the question is whether they can consistently execute. If the Sooners can build on Saturday’s performance and string together late-season wins, including a productive SEC Tournament showing, a March berth remains within reach.
Next, OU will look to stay hot against Georgia (16-6, 4-5 SEC) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center on the SEC Network.
This story was edited by Laurie Jones.
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