The South Carolina men's basketball team fell to the Oklahoma Sooners 86-74 during the first round of the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 11.
Oklahoma scored right off the bat with a dunk. Missed 3-pointers from redshirt senior guard Meechie Johnson and senior guard Mike Sharavjamts allowed Oklahoma to make the first 3-pointer of the game.
The Gamecocks were able to score their first points of the game with a dunk from Sharavjamts. Jumpers from redshirt senior guard Kobe Knox and junior forward Elijah Strong added to South Carolina’s 6-0 run and gave the Gamecocks a 6-5 lead.
A foul was called on Sharavjamts, with the Sooners heading to the free-throw line and making both. Sharavjamts responded with a layup immediately after, but Oklahoma was able to make a dunk in return.
Senior forward Nordin Kapic then made the Gamecocks' first 3-pointer, with freshman guard Eli Ellis adding another for a 14-11 South Carolina lead. Johnson was fouled and made both free throws, while Kapic scored his second 3-pointer of the game. Johnson was fouled once more, helping the Gamecocks increase their lead to 21-13.
Oklahoma made up some ground with a jumper and drew a foul on Ellis, bringing the score to 21-17.
However, the Gamecocks responded with Knox making another layup, followed by a 3-pointer from freshman guard Grant Polk, increasing the lead to 26-17.
While Oklahoma was able to decrease the deficit with two jumpers and a Gamecock turnover, Knox made another 3-pointer, allowing South Carolina to remain in the lead at 29-21.
Oklahoma answered with a layup from senior forward Tae Davis, but Sharavjamts responded with the Gamecocks' sixth 3-pointer.
Knox was fouled and headed to the free-throw line, making one. Freshman forward EJ Walker then stole the ball, leading to another 3-pointer for the Gamecocks by Sharavjamts, marking a 7-0 South Carolina run.
Redshirt senior guard Nijel Pack helped the Sooners gain some traction with a 3-pointer and a jumper. Knox scored yet another 3-pointer for the Gamecocks, before Davis answered with the Sooners' third 3-pointer of the game. Johnson was fouled for the third time, going one for two, with the score now 40-31.
However, a 6-0 Oklahoma run resulted in a one-possession score, 40-37. Johnson was fouled again and made both free throws, but an Oklahoma dunk and subsequent shooting foul brought the Gamecock's lead to 2 points.
The Sooners managed to add another layup, tying with South Carolina at 42-42 heading into halftime.
Like the start of the first half, Oklahoma scored first to start the second half, taking the lead for the first time since the first five minutes of the first half. Johnson was able to score off a jumper, but Oklahoma answered with a 3-pointer, increasing its lead to 51-44.
Strong was able to make a 3-pointer, but Oklahoma made a layup and drew a shooting foul on South Carolina to still maintain the lead.
Both teams exchanged layups, but turnovers from Johnson and Ellis and missed rebounds for the Gamecocks resulted in Oklahoma further increasing its lead, 59-49.
Layups from Sharavjamts and Knox, as well as a 3-pointer from Johnson, allowed the Gamecocks to get back within 5 points at 61-56. However, Oklahoma answered with a 3-pointer.
Sharavjamts was then fouled and made both free throws, but Oklahoma scored another 3-pointer, remaining aggressive on the offensive front. Johnson was able to score off a layup, before the Sooners scored their ninth 3-pointer of the game and took a 10-point lead at 70-60.
Oklahoma only increased its lead, going on a 6-0 run before Ellis and eventually Sharavjamts scored off jumpers, making the score 78-64.
Both teams further exchanged points and turnovers, including trips to the free-throw line, before Oklahoma eventually sealed its win, 86-74, after a comfortable double-digit lead for most of the second half.
With this loss, the Gamecocks' season comes to a close. While head coach Lamont Paris will return to coach next year, the Gamecocks will part ways with six seniors, including Johnson, Knox, Kapic, Sharavjamts, graduate guard Myles Stute and senior guard Eli Sparkman. The team finished the 2025-26 season with a 13-19 overall record and a 4-14 SEC record.