Despite trailing by as much as 11 points in the game, the Oklahoma Sooners came back to defeat Michigan, 87-86, in the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte.
The path to success for Oklahoma was simple. Put the ball in Jeremiah Fears hands and let him go to work.
Fears scored 30 in the Sooners victory, including a four-point play to put his team ahead with 11.5 seconds left.
Fears is a freshman and is having an excellent year for the Sooners. He is averaging 16.7 points (second on team) and 4.7 assists (first on team).
Fears and senior forward Jalen Moore are an excellent freshman-senior combo and are just what Oklahoma will need to make some real noise in its first year in the SEC.
Michigan dropped to 8-3 with the loss, but the Wolverines have a lot to be excited about. Michigan center Vladislav Goldin finished the game with 26 points and 10 rebounds, well above his season averages of 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds.
Danny Wolf (15 points, 10 rebounds), Roddy Gayle Jr. (15 points) and Tre Donaldson (14 points) were all in double figures for Michigan as well.
The combination of Goldin and Wolf will give Michigan a much needed inside defensive and rebounding presence that it will need to make noise in the Big Ten this season.
Michigan will return home to host Purdue Fort Worth and Western Kentucky before opening Big Ten play at USC on Jan. 4.
Oklahoma will play Central Arkansas and Prairie View before beginning SEC play against No. 6 Alabama on Jan. 4.
