Oklahoma men’s basketball dropped their season opener Monday night, falling 68-64 to East Texas A&M at the Lloyd Noble Center. This wasn’t just any loss, folks. East Texas A&M rolled in as a staggering 28.5-point underdog, ranked 298th in KenPom’s preseason ratings. Our Sooners, on the other hand, were sitting at 29th. Yeah, that score stings.
The Numbers Don’t Lie, And They’re UGLY
This upset didn’t just break a game; it shattered streaks. Before Monday, OU had won 22 of their past 23 season openers. Even wilder, they had an incredible 30-game winning streak in non-conference home games. All of that, gone, snapped by a team that finished last season with an 11-21 record. Imagine the gut punch when returning forward Derrion Reid had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but his midrange shot rimmed out. Texas A&M transfer Pop Isaacs led the Sooners with 15 points, and Reid himself put up a solid 14 points and 10 rebounds. But individual efforts couldn’t overcome the team’s struggles. They shot a dismal 17 of 32 from the free throw line, and coughed up the ball 15 times. The Sooners even trailed by as much as 16 points in the second half. That’s a brutal way to kick off the season.
What’s Missing After This Gut Punch?
Part of the struggle might be traced to point guard Xzayvier Brown, who bruised his knee in practice and was ruled out pregame. They clearly missed him out there. The good news, though, is Brown warmed up and isn’t expected to miss many games. He needs to be back on the court, pronto. Next up, the Sooners host Mississippi Valley State at 7 p.m. Friday at McCasland Field House. They need to get their act together fast, because this kind of start to the season is tough to shake off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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