Jeremiah Fears' heroics lift No. 14 Oklahoma over No. 24 Michigan

Field Level Media|published: Wed 18th December, 23:52 2024

Dec 18, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Jeremiah Fears (0) drives to the basket against Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) during the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Jeremiah Fears converted a four-point play with 11.5 seconds remaining to lift No. 14 Oklahoma over No. 24 Michigan 87-86 at the Jumpman Invitational on Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C.

Fears, the Sooners' freshman sensation, finished with a career-high 30 points -- 20 in the second half.

With Oklahoma (11-0) trailing by three in the waning seconds, Fears came off a screen to drain the game-tying 3-pointer as he fell to the court after being fouled by Roddy Gayle Jr.

Fears hit the free throw for his 30th point.

After Fears' play, Michigan (8-3) tried to get the ball inside but had to settle for a Tre Donaldson 3-point try with three seconds left.

But Donaldson's shot hit off the back of the rim, and while Danny Wolf grabbed the rebound, he didn't have time to get a shot off before time expired.

The Sooners, one of four undefeated Division I teams, hit 12 3-pointers while Michigan hit just four.

Vladislav Goldin led Michigan with 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field while Gayle and Wolf added 15 each. Goldin and Wolf each pulled down 10 rebounds.

The Wolverines have dropped their three games by a combined five points.

Michigan was pulling away midway through the second half, scoring seven consecutive points to stretch its lead to 11.

But the Sooners quickly closed the deficit with six consecutive points and then chipped away more with 3-pointers from Fears and Duke Miles.

Oklahoma answered a three-point play from Goldin with a quick 9-0 run over less than two minutes, keyed by two big plays from Fears.

First, the freshman drove the lane before finding Miles for a step-back 3-pointer, then he did it himself on the next possession, switching hands as he finished off the layup to put the Sooners ahead by four.

But Michigan took advantage of a series of Sooners' turnovers to go up by three with 1:14 remaining.

The Wolverines had a chance to extend the lead in the final minute before Sam Godwin blocked Wolf's shot at the win, then Oklahoma's Glenn Taylor Jr. picked up a steal to set up Fears' late heroics.

Miles added 17 points for the Sooners while Jalon Moore scored 16.

--Field Level Media

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