NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Oklahoma entered Saturday’s matchup riding a brutal nine-game losing streak, a stretch that had pushed the program to the brink of matching its longest skid in history. Yet, despite the mounting pressure, the Sooners delivered a resilient performance against a highly ranked Vanderbilt team, holding on for a one-point win that provided a glimmer of hope amid an otherwise difficult campaign.
The game began with Oklahoma asserting early dominance. Forward Tae Davis, who transferred to OU from Notre Dame ahead of the 2025-26 season, erupted out of the gate.
In the first eight minutes, Davis poured in 14 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting, fueling a 24-10 lead that set the tone for the Sooners’ strong first half. Though his scoring cooled off later—he didn’t add any more points after that initial burst—Davis’ hot start was pivotal in helping Oklahoma establish rhythm and confidence.
The Sooners shot an impressive 59 percent from the field in the opening half, building a commanding 48-34 halftime advantage—their largest halftime lead in SEC play this season. As a team, OU finished the game shooting 53 percent overall and an efficient 43 percent from beyond the arc, showcasing sharp execution on the offensive end.
Multiple players stepped up to complement Davis’ early contributions. Guard Xzayvier Brown led the way with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, providing steady scoring throughout.
Nijel Pack added 17 points, including three made three-pointers, while bench guards Dayton Forsythe and Jadon Jones each knocked down a pair of triples, combining for 20 points off the pine.
These efforts from the backcourt, including quality reserve minutes, helped Oklahoma maintain separation for much of the contest.
Vanderbilt, however, refused to go quietly. The Commodores, playing without two starters—including former OU guard Duke Miles—mounted a furious late rally. Trailing by 19 points with just 3:38 remaining, Vanderbilt unleashed a 22-6 run to close within three points with 28 seconds left. Tyler Tanner, who exploded for a game-high 37 points on 10-of-23 shooting, drilled a three-pointer with five seconds remaining to make it a two-point game.
In the final moments, Brown was fouled on an inbounds play and calmly sank both free throws to seal the 92-91 victory.
This road win against a ranked opponent qualifies as a Quad 1 triumph, with Vanderbilt holding a strong No. 14 position in the NET rankings at the time. The result improves Oklahoma to 12-12 overall and 2-9 in SEC play, moving them out of sole possession of last place in the conference standings—they now tie South Carolina at 2-9 in league games. Vanderbilt drops to 19-4 overall and 6-4 in the SEC.
For the Sooners, the victory halts a downward spiral that had seen their NET ranking plummet from No. 49 on January 4 to No. 85 heading into this game.
While the upset will undoubtedly provide a significant bump in the rankings, Oklahoma remains firmly on the outside of the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Realistically, their path to the Big Dance now hinges on a deep run in the SEC Tournament in March.T he dramatic escape against Vanderbilt offers a welcome respite after more than a month of struggles, but sustainability remains the key question.
Can the Sooners build momentum from this breakthrough, or will inconsistencies resurface?
UP NEXT: Oklahoma enjoys a brief break before returning home to host Georgia on Saturday, offering another opportunity to string together positive results in what has been a turbulent season.
This upset in Nashville could serve as a turning point—if the team capitalizes on the confidence it provides.
