Bearkats Edge Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center in Tight Contest

The Oklahoma Sooners faced a narrow defeat at the hands of the Sam Houston State Bearkats with a final score of 52-51. The Sooners now stand with their record affected by this outcome, while the Bearkats improved theirs.

In a game where every possession counted, the Oklahoma Sooners were edged out by just one point in their own backyard at Lloyd Noble Center. Despite trailing by three points at halftime, the Bearkats managed to turn things around in the second half, adding 33 points to their tally compared to 25 by the home team.

The Oklahoma team showcased defensive strength with five blocks and four steals but struggled offensively with an overall field goal percentage of 37 percent. They were more efficient from close range, hitting nearly 46 percent of their two-point attempts but faltered from beyond the arc with only a 26 percent success rate on three-point shots.

The home side's rebounding was notably stronger than that of their opponents; they collected 40 rebounds – six more than the Bearkats. However, turnovers proved costly for Oklahoma as they gave up possession twenty-one times throughout the game which translated into only four points off turnovers for them.

Sam Houston State's defense was tenacious as evidenced by nine steals and fifteen personal fouls committed during play. Their offensive efforts were led by converting ten offensive rebounds into second-chance points and capitalizing on turnovers to score eleven points.

Despite shooting struggles from both teams, free throws made a significant difference in this closely contested match-up. The visitors made just four out of nine free throw attempts while Oklahoma converted fourteen out of twenty opportunities from the charity stripe.

As fans look ahead, they can mark their calendars for when The Oklahoma Sooners will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman on November 12th at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. This upcoming game will be available for viewing on ESPN+ internet broadcast networks.