NORMAN, Okla. (November 9, 2025) – Senior
Mike Evbagharu had a near-perfect shooting night with 27 points and eight rebounds to lead the University of North Alabama in an 81-72 loss to SEC opponent Oklahoma on Monday inside the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla.
The Lions (2-1) suffer their first loss of the season — but not without a battle. UNA took a 36-35 lead late in the first half after a three-pointer at the shot clock buzzer by senior
Caden Harris, stealing away from momentum on the road. Evbagharu also hit a go-ahead layup early in the second half to make it 38-37.
In the second half, Oklahoma (2-1) became too much to handle with a 17-point swing early in the frame. UNA chipped away at times, pulling within single digits twice more, but the Sooners used free throws and a strong defensive effort to stay ahead.
Evbagharu was arguably the best player on the court for either team, leading in both points and rebounding. He shot 10-11 from the field, 2-3 from downtown and 5-7 from the line to make up his 27 points. The Canadian also grabbed eight rebounds — the eighth being the 500th of his college career.
Sophomore
Jacobe Whitted was also a major factor off the bench with a career-high 11 points and five rebounds, going 4-8 from the floor with two first-half triples to aid UNA in taking an early lead. Graduate guard
Quan Lax shot 5-9 from the field and finished with 14 points before getting in foul trouble in the second half.
Junior wing
Ansar Osman added seven points with a triple and four free throws.
Despite the loss, UNA led Oklahoma in the rebound column and in the paint. The Sooners outscored UNA behind the arc and at the charity stripe while only turning the ball over six times.
Oklahoma was led by Xzayvier Brown with 19 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: The Sooners had the upper-hand early on, jumping out to an 11-4 lead. UNA did not attempt a single free throw in the first half, but shot over 50 percent from the field and did some damage behind the arc to match Oklahoma step-for-step the rest of the half. The Sooners led 22-12 at one point, but the Lions had back-to-back triples from Whitted and a layup from Lax to go on an 8-0 run. A triple by Evbagharu eventually tied it at 25-25, then later a three-pointer at the shot clock by Harris gave UNA a 36-35 lead — its first of the game at the 1:07 mark of the half. Oklahoma made two free throws to take a 37-36 lead into the break.
Second Half: Oklahoma surrendered the lead with a quick basket by Evbagharu in the first 20 seconds to make it 38-37 in favor of UNA, but a 17-0 run allowed the Sooners to pull ahead. Osman hit a triple that got UNA back within single digits at 59-50 with 10:49 remaining, but that was as close as UNA could get in the second half until the final score from Whitted. UNA held Oklahoma to zero field goals in the final four minutes, as all seven of its points came on free throws.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- UNA outscored Oklahoma 36-22 in the paint and won the rebound advantage 36-33.
- The Lions had a 36-23 advantage in bench points with Lax and Whitted combining for 27 of those points.
- Turnovers played a factor, as UNA lost that battle 13-6 with Oklahoma scoring 14 points off those turnovers.
- UNA shot 48 percent on 26-54 shooting, while Oklahoma went 25-58 for 43 percent. OU made five more triples than UNA (13-8) and six more free throws (18-12).
- UNA was better at the line percentage-wise, going 12-16 for 75 percent. UNA did not attempt a first half free throw, while Oklahoma got 27 chances in the game and went 67 percent.
- The Lions still remain the most recent United Athletic Conference team to defeat an SEC opponent with a 66-65 win over Ole Miss in 2022.
COMING UP NEXT
UNA will try again with an ACC opponent Friday, as the Lions battle Miami at 4 p.m. in Coral Gables, Fla.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
