AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 3, 2026
Oklahoma Basketball Suffers Shocking Upset in Season Opener
The Oklahoma men's basketball team began its 2026-27 season with an unexpected 68-64 loss to East Texas A&M at the Lloyd Noble Center, leaving fans and players stunned. Head coach Porter Moser issued a public apology to the Sooners' supporters following the defeat on Monday night.
Coach Moser Accepts Responsibility for Loss
After the game, Porter Moser addressed the fan base, admitting fault and vowing improvement. "The only thing I know to do is apologize to the fan base and get better," Moser said. He extended his apology to all in attendance, emphasizing the team's need for accountability and growth moving forward.
Historic Upset Based on Betting Line
Oklahoma entered the game as a substantial favorite, closing as a 28.5-point favorite at DraftKings, according to ESPN. The defeat was notable, marking the second-largest upset in Division I men's basketball over the past 30 years based on the point spread. The only larger point-spread upset occurred in December 2022, when 30.5-point underdog Eastern Illinois defeated Iowa. East Texas A&M took a 13-12 lead with 12:59 remaining in the first half and never trailed after that point.
Key Moments and Player Performances
Despite being down by nine points at halftime, Oklahoma managed to tie the game at 58 and again at 60, but never reclaimed the lead. Moser cited 15 turnovers, 15 missed free throws, and a significant deficit in three-point shooting as major contributors to the loss. East Texas A&M converted 11 of 27 three-point attempts, while Oklahoma managed just 5 of 20.
For East Texas A&M, Bo Aldridge led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Mohamed Diakite and Alonzo Dodd each added 15 points for the Lions. Moser acknowledged Aldridge's standout performance, calling him "the best player on the floor." On the Oklahoma side, Pop Isaacs scored 15 points, and Derrion Reid recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Impact of Injury to Xzayvier Brown
Oklahoma played without its leading returning scorer, Xzayvier Brown, who was ruled out prior to the game with a lower-body injury. Moser learned of Brown's unavailability about an hour before tipoff. While he admitted Brown's absence affected the team's offensive strategy, he refused to use the injury as an excuse, stating, "Yes, we should have found a way to win. I don't care who's out, who's in, who hasn't played. It's on me. We're gonna fix it." Moser described Brown as the team's "No. 1 tempo guy," indicating the Sooners struggled to establish their usual pace without him.
End of Winning Streaks and Looking Ahead
The defeat ended Oklahoma's streak of 30 consecutive nonconference home victories and snapped a run of 22 wins in the past 23 season openers. Moser stressed the importance of taking responsibility, stating, "There's no running away from this loss. We've got to own it, and I'm gonna own it. I'm gonna be in front of the pack owning this."
Oklahoma will look to rebound when it hosts Mississippi Valley State on Friday in its next game.
Source: kjrh.com.
