In a nail-biting contest, Oklahoma triumphed over Arkansas with a close 65-62 victory on Saturday night in Fayetteville. The win was orchestrated by standout performances from Jeremiah Fears, who scored 16 points, and Jalon Moore, who not only contributed 13 points but also sealed the victory with critical plays in the final moments of the game.
As the game entered its final minutes, Arkansas had pulled even at 62 with a clutch 3-pointer from Johnell Davis. However, the Razorbacks faced a scoring drought in the last 2:13 of the game. Capitalizing on this, Moore made a vital free throw with just over a minute remaining, giving Oklahoma a slender one-point advantage. Securing the win, Moore delivered a fastbreak dunk in the closing seconds, much to the delight of the Sooners.
Fears showcased his consistency on the court by converting 4 of his 8 shots, including a crucial 3-pointer, while maintaining a perfect record from the free-throw line, going 7-for-7. These efforts were instrumental in Oklahoma's back-to-back wins, breaking a prior four-game losing streak and marking their first conference road win of the season. Moore's performance was equally commendable, with him hitting 6 of 14 shots and pulling down six rebounds.
On the opposing side, Johnell Davis led Arkansas with 18 points. Despite his efforts, the team struggled under the new leadership of coach John Calipari, having lost six of their last seven games. Key contributions came from players like D.J. Wagner, who added 13 points and five assists, and Zvonimir Ivisic, a reserve who scored ten points, grabbed six rebounds, and provided four assists.
The game was tightly contested, with Oklahoma holding a slim 35-31 lead at halftime. Davis kept Arkansas competitive with a free throw that gave them a brief lead at 42-41 early in the second half. However, Oklahoma's resilience shone through as Luke Northweather and Fears were fouled on back-to-back 3-point attempts, calmly sinking all six free throws to tie the game once more. The clash continued with back-and-forth scoring, but it was Oklahoma's closing strategy that clinched the win.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma plans to maintain their momentum as they travel to face No. 13 Texas A&M this Tuesday. Meanwhile, Arkansas hopes to bounce back from their recent struggles when they take on No. 9 Kentucky on Saturday.