Chavez Takes Over in OT as No. 16 Oklahoma Stuns No. 2 South Carolina

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NORMAN, OK — In a performance that will be etched into the history of the Lloyd Noble Center, No. 16 Oklahoma pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2025-26 season, taking down No. 2 South Carolina 94–82 in a thrilling overtime battle on Thursday night.

The victory marks Oklahoma’s third-ever win over a top-two opponent and snaps a 12-game winning streak for the reigning SEC champion Gamecocks.

The Aaliyah Chavez Show

For 40 minutes, freshman phenom Aaliyah Chavez struggled to find her rhythm, shooting just 4-of-14 in regulation. But when the clock hit overtime, the Lubbock native proved why she was the No. 1 recruit in the country.

The OT Explosion: Chavez scored 15 of her 26 points in the five-minute overtime period.
Perfect Precision: She went a flawless 5-for-5 from the field (including 4-for-4 from three-point range) in the extra frame.
Record Breaker: Her 15 points in overtime set a new Oklahoma school record, and her final stat line (26 PTS, 8 AST) made her the first freshman since Caitlin Clark in 2021 to post such numbers against a top-2 opponent.

“She was great,” said South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. “She ran her team, hit big shots, handled the ball. Everything that you want a point guard to do.”

How It Happened: A Game of Runs

The game was a physical, back-and-forth affair that saw the Sooners battle back from an eight-point deficit late in the first half.

The Lead Exchange: South Carolina held a 43–36 lead at the break after Ta’Niya Latson was fouled on a three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left and sank all three free throws.
The Sooner Surge: Oklahoma opened the third quarter on an 8–0 run, eventually outscoring the Gamecocks 25–16 in the period to take a two-point lead into the fourth.
The Final Seconds: After South Carolina rallied to take a 75–73 lead with 41 seconds left, Raegan Beers (18 PTS, 14 REB) grabbed a clutch offensive rebound and scored the game-tying putback with 18.4 seconds remaining to force OT.
The Domination: In overtime, Oklahoma was unstoppable, shooting 100% (7-of-7) as a team and outscoring the Gamecocks 19–7.

Impact & Key Stats

The Sooners’ 94 points are the most South Carolina has allowed in nearly seven years (since UConn in 2019).

Team	FG %	Rebounds	Bench Pts	Final (OT)
#16 Oklahoma	48.1%	54	8	94
#2 South Carolina	37.0%	39	23	82

Raegan Beers (OU): 18 points, 14 rebounds (Double-Double).
Payton Verhulst (OU): 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists.
Tessa Johnson (SC): Led the Gamecocks with 19 points.

What’s Next?

The win provides a massive boost for Jennie Baranczyk’s squad, who had previously lost three straight to ranked opponents. Oklahoma (15-4, 3-3 SEC) will look to carry this momentum on the road to Auburn this Sunday. Meanwhile, South Carolina (19-2, 5-1 SEC) returns home to host Vanderbilt on January 25, looking to bounce back from their first conference loss.