Nijel Pack scored 22 points, leading Oklahoma to a 91-79 win over Auburn on Tuesday in Norman, Okla.
The Sooners (14-14, 4-11 Southeastern Conference) snapped a two-game losing streak. They had lost 11 of their previous 13 games.
The Tigers (15-13, 6-9) have lost six of their past seven, sliding to the NCAA Tournament bubble after being considered firmly in the field in late January.
Oklahoma has lost plenty of close games, with four of its losses during the 2-11 stretch coming by four or fewer points. It wasn’t tight late this time, though, as Auburn didn’t get closer than nine points in the second half.
Though the Sooners took the lead for good just more than six minutes into the game, it wasn’t until an 14-6 run late in the first half that they gained control.
Oklahoma hit four 3-pointers during that stretch and sank 10 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half.
The Sooners haven’t hit more than 14 3-pointers in any game this season. Oklahoma finished short of that, with 13 3-pointers, but shot a season-best 68.4% from long distance.
Auburn started red hot from the field, hitting eight of its first 11 shots, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
However, the Sooners maintained pace, starting 7 of 10 with four 3-pointers in the first six-plus minutes.
The Tigers cooled off considerably later in the first half, while Oklahoma remained steady.
Pack scored 12 of his points in the first half, going 4 of 5 from the field, 4 of 4 from beyond the arc.
Oklahoma’s Mohamed Wague had 14 of his 18 points before halftime. Wague also had nine rebounds, a career-high-tying four steals and a career-best four blocks.
Derrion Reid added 16 points and Xzayvier Brown 14 in the win.
Kevin Overton and Keyshawn Hall scored 26 each to lead the Tigers.
Hall put up 23 of his points in the second half, including scoring 20 of 25 Auburn points during the final 11 minutes.
The Tigers’ other points during that stretch were scored by Overton. Only four of Auburn’s 37 second-half points were scored by someone other than Overton or Hall.
–Field Level Media
