SEC/Big 12 Challenge Recap
The SEC wins the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, 5-4. This is just the second time the SEC has won in the challenge's eight year history, with the first coming in 2018. No. 5 Texas-Kentucky was canceled because of COVID-19 problems with the Wildcats.
FINAL SCORES:
No. 24 Oklahoma: 66 No. 9 Alabama: 61
Texas A&M: 68 Kansas State: 61
No. 10 Texas Tech: 76 LSU: 71
Florida: 85 No.11 West Virginia: 80
No. 12 Missouri: 102 TCU: 98 (OT)
No. 2 Baylor: 84 Auburn: 72
Oklahoma State: 81 Arkansas: 77
No. 18 Tennessee: 80 No. 19 Kansas: 61
Mississippi State: 95 Iowa State: 56
Texas A&M, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi State walked off the court as winners. The Florida Gators upset the No. 11 West Virginia Mountaineers to continue its four-game winning streak. Mississippi State and Tennessee dominated their opponents, while A&M and Missouri held on for the win.
The Gators are now on a four-game winning streak after a rocky start to the season. Florida is currently second in the conference behind Alabama. The Tennessee Volunteers handed the Kansas Jayhawks its fourth loss in the last five games. According to ESPN, the Jayhawks have not done this since Roy Williams' first season. Kansas is also now 4-4 versus ranked opponents and 5-3 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Arkansas fell short to their opponents. Oklahoma snapped Alabama's ten-game win streak as the Tide lost to the Sooners. The Sooners also held the Tide to 61 points, which is below their average of 81. This was also the Sooners fourth win over a top ten team this month.
Auburn faced the difficult task of going up against the No. 2 team in the country. Despite the effort from the Tigers, it was not enough against the Baylor Bears.
LSU had a seven-point lead over the Red Raiders with a little more than a minute left, but all it took was 60 seconds to change the game. The Raiders went on a 12-0 run steal the win from LSU.
Despite the close score, the Razorbacks struggled against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. According to 247 Sports, the Hogs were 48.6% shots from the floor and only 33% on 3 points. They also had the fewest throws from the free-throw line, 4-for-7. It was a rough day for the Razorbacks.
Despite some heartaches, the SEC pulled out the win in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Some teams will be looking to rebound, while others hope to continue the success.
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