Four Double-Figure Scorers Propel Sooners to 81-72 Win

Monday, November 9

Norman, Okla.

7 PM

University of Oklahoma

2-1,0-0SEC

North Alabama

2-1,0-0UAC

Team	1	2	F
North Ala.	36	36	72
Oklahoma	37	44	81

Men's Basketball vs. North Alabama - Lloyd Noble Center, Nov. 9

November 09, 2026 | Men's Basketball

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NORMAN — A balanced scoring attack and an early second half 17-0 run powered Oklahoma (2-1, 0-0 SEC) to an 81-72 win over North Alabama (2-1, 0-0 UAC) Monday evening at Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners held a double-digit lead for most of the second half and lead by as many as 19 before a late run by the visitors cut into the final margin.

Xzayvier Brown scored a team-high 19 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists, while backcourt mate B.J. Edwards knocked down four 3-pointers for the second consecutive game and finished with 17 points.

The Sooners set a school record with 43 3-point attempts and finished with 13 made threes for the second time in as many games. Pop Isaacs made four from beyond the arc and finished with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

Derrion Reid added 10 points, including the first five of a 17-0 run early in the second half, six rebounds and two steals.

OU committed a season-low six turnovers against North Alabama's pressure defense. The Sooners were able to attack the pressure and outscore the Lions 19-5 on fastbreak points.

Mike Evbagharu led North Alabama with a game-high 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field and a 5-of-8 effort from the foul line. Quan Lax (14) and Jacobe Whitted (13) came off the bench to score in double figures as well.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Sooners jumped out to a 9-2 lead to force a North Alabama timeout 2:47 into the contest. Oklahoma pushed the lead to 10 on a Dayton Forsythe 3-pointer at the 12:56 mark and looked poised to break the game open midway through the opening half.

North Alabama responded with an 8-0 run as Whitted hit a pair of threes and the Lions evened the contest at 25 on a corner three by Evbagharu at the 6:33 mark.

Oklahoma used a 7-0 surge, capped off by a Khani Rooths' steal and dunk, to pull ahead with just over four minutes remaining. North Alabama hit three 3-pointers down the stretch, including a backed-in rainbow from the right wing and a late shot clock heave, to grab a one-point lead late in the half.

Brown converted a pair of free throws to cap off a 12-point opening half and send the Sooners into the break leading 37-36. Oklahoma went 7-of-27 (.259) from 3-point range with Brown, Isaacs and Edwards each making a pair from beyond the arc.

North Alabama grabbed a lead briefly in the second half before Oklahoma responded in emphatic fashion. OU used a 10-0 run to pull ahead 47-38 and force a North Alabama timeout at the 16:51 mark. Reid scored the first five points of the rally before Isaacs forced the timeout with a transition three.

The Sooners continued the run with seven straight points out of the timeout to extend the lead to 54-38 with 14:24 remaining. North Alabama briefly got to within nine near the midpoint in the half before Brown answered with a three to push the margin back to 12.

Oklahoma remained in control and grabbed its largest margin of the night (19) on an Isaacs' three and 3-point play by Duke Brennan with 4:17 remaining for a 75-56 lead. North Alabama used a 12-5 run over the final three minutes of action to trim the margin to nine at 81-72.

ATTACK FROM THE ARC
The Sooners set a school record with 43 3-point attempts, including 27 attempts from beyond the arc in the opening half. OU made 13 threes for the second consecutive game and are now averaging 10.3 3-point field goals per game.

In Friday's win over Mississippi Valley State Oklahoma matched a then-school record with 40 3-point attempts.

SEASON-HIGH SURGE
Oklahoma broke the game open with a 17-0 run over a span of 4:40 to take a 16-point lead with 14:47 remaining. Reid had seven points during the run, while Brown added four points.

BEST BACKCOURT TRIO
The guard trio of Brown, Edwards and Isaacs combined for 49 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and 11 3-point field goals in the win.

GOING LOW WITH THE TOs
Oklahoma finished Monday's contest with a season-low six turnovers after committing over 12 turnovers in each of the first two games of the season. The Sooners had eight assists with just one turnover in the opening half and finished the game with 15 assists.

UP NEXT
OU's five-game season-opening homestand continues Friday, Nov. 13 against FDU. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. with the game available on SECN+. Friday's contest will be the first meeting between the two schools.