Freshman Jeremiah Fears delivered a career performance, scoring 29 points to propel 14th-seeded Oklahoma to an 81-75 upset victory over 11th-seeded Georgia in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday night. The Sooners snapped a two-year conference tournament drought and advanced to face No. 6 seed Kentucky in the second round on Thursday.
Fears was electric from start to finish, drilling three 3-pointers in the first half and controlling the tempo throughout. He got crucial support from Jalon Moore, whose clutch 3-pointer capped a decisive 10-0 run that pushed Oklahoma’s lead to 74-64 with just under three minutes to play.
Georgia (20-12), riding a four-game win streak coming into the game, refused to go down quietly. The Bulldogs twice cut the deficit to four points in the final 19 seconds but were unable to complete the comeback.
The Sooners (20-12) showcased an efficient offensive attack, shooting 52% from the field (14-of-27) and hitting 12 total 3-pointers. Moore finished with 14 points, while Mohamed Wague provided a strong inside presence with 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
Fears and Moore combined for six of Oklahoma’s 10 first-half 3-pointers, helping the Sooners establish a 43-39 halftime lead. Fears scored 13 in the opening period, while Moore added nine as Oklahoma maintained its offensive rhythm against Georgia’s defense.
Silas Demary Jr. led the Bulldogs with 24 points, trying to keep Georgia within striking distance. Freshman Asa Newell delivered a dominant performance with 21 points and 17 rebounds, while Blue Cain chipped in 17 points.
Despite their strong individual performances, Georgia struggled to contain Oklahoma’s perimeter shooting and key late-game execution. The Bulldogs will now await their postseason fate, with an NIT bid looking likely.
Oklahoma’s victory secured its second consecutive 20-win season under head coach Porter Moser and kept its NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Sooners will now prepare for a second-round battle against sixth-seeded Kentucky (21-10) on Thursday, looking to continue their surprising SEC Tournament run.
Top Performances:
Oklahoma: Jeremiah Fears – 29 PTS, 2 AST, 6 REB
Georgia: Silas Demary Jr. – 24 PTS, 3 AST, 3 REB
