No. 14 Oklahoma edged No. 24 Michigan 87-86 thanks to a late four-point play by Jeremiah Fears, who nailed a 3-pointer with just 11.5 seconds remaining and drew a foul. He then confidently converted the free throw to seal the victory during a thrilling finish at the Jumpman Invitational.
Fears showcased his scoring prowess, finishing the night with 30 points on 8-of-12 shooting, helping the Sooners maintain their unbeaten record at 11-0. Duke Miles contributed significantly with 17 points, including two crucial 3-pointers in the second half.
On the opposing side, Vladislav Goldin led the Wolverines with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Danny Wolf added 15 points and 10 rebounds to the mix for Michigan, who now stands at 8-3.
Michigan appeared to have the game in hand for most of the night, holding a three-point lead and possessing the ball with just 30 seconds left. However, a critical turnover opened the door for Oklahoma’s comeback.
As the clock wound down, Fears broke free from the defense and launched a deep 30-foot shot from the left wing, falling back as he was fouled by Roddy Gayle Jr. The Wolverines had one last opportunity to clinch the game, but Tre Donaldson’s 3-point attempt missed, and Wolf was unable to secure the offensive rebound before time expired.
Takeaways
For Michigan, this loss will be difficult to digest. The Wolverines inexplicably shifted away from utilizing their towering 7-footers, Goldin and Wolf, in the second half, allowing the Sooners to recover from an 11-point deficit.
Oklahoma, despite facing a relatively easy schedule this season, showed resilience against one of the tallest teams in college basketball. Fears proved himself as a clutch player with a game-winning shot that demonstrated his capability under pressure.
Key moment
The turning point came when Gayle turned the ball over with 30 seconds remaining and his team leading 86-83.
Key stat
Oklahoma’s shooting from beyond the arc was impressive, hitting 12-of-25 attempts, while Michigan struggled significantly, making only 4-of-28.
Up next
Oklahoma will host Central Arkansas on Sunday, while Michigan will face Fort Wayne at home.
