Zhuric Phelps stepped up, Texas A&M forced turnovers and the Aggies pulled off an improbable turnaround in the second half.

Phelps, who scored 28 of his career-high 34 points in the second half, hit a 3-pointer back from the top of the key with 20 seconds left. That ended a stunning recovery from an 18-point deficit and led No. 10 A&M to an 80-78 Southeastern Conference basketball victory over No. 17 Oklahoma on Wednesday night in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Aggies (13-2, 2-0) stopped two Sooner shots in the final seconds to secure their ninth straight win.

“The game just came to me,” Phelps said after the game. “The ball fell. I continued. It was a team effort. My team believed in me. Thanks to them, I was able to do this.”

Phelps’ rushing performance was complemented by A&M’s defensive performance, which forced 10 turnovers in the second half that were converted into 24 points. Overall, A&M scored 30 points off turnovers.

That helped overcome the equally violent shootings in Oklahoma. The Sooners (11-4, 0-2), led by Brycen Goodine, who scored 34 points off the bench, shot 54.3 percent from the field and 58.3 percent (14 of 17) from 3-point range. Distance.

“We’re very fortunate to come out here,” A&M head coach Buzz Williams said. “It’s hard to beat a team that makes 14 three-pointers and scores the same rate as them. If a team makes 14 three-pointers and their 3-point percentage is better than their overall percentage, you should probably assume they lost by at least 30 points.”

At first it seemed that this might actually be the case.

The Aggies played without injured top scorer Wade Taylor IV, which was problematic in itself. But then they were ambushed by Goodine, who came into the game averaging 5.9 points.

Goodine made six of eight attempts from behind the arc and scored 21 points in the first half, nine more than his previous season high.

However, Goodine was responsible for only two-thirds of the Sooners’ 3-point shots in the half. They achieved a whopping 56.3 percent (9 out of 16).

Guard Duke Miles hit OU’s ninth 3-pointer with 2:36 left in the half to put A&M in a 38-24 hole.

The Aggies ended the half with a mini 6-1 run and stayed in the race, but still trailed 39-30 at halftime.

OU stayed hot early in the second half, taking a 51-33 lead on a three-pointer by Jalon Moore with 17 minutes left.

At that point it seemed like a lost cause. But the Aggies never lost hope.

“Wade was out,” Phelps said. “We needed a man to strengthen us. My team just believed in me and we won.”

It wasn’t quite that simple. The Aggies mounted an attack, but OU still held a 70-59 lead after a Moore dunk with 8:25 to play.

However, A&M forward Pharrel Payne, who had 10 points, responded to Moore with a dunk of his own. That began a 12-0 A&M run highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers and a layup by Phelps.

Then a steal by Hayden Hefner led to a breakaway dunk by Solomon Washington that gave A&M a 71-70 lead.

The Aggies eventually built a five-point lead. However, OU responded with a 6-0 run to take a 78-77 lead.

Oklahoma had a chance to extend the lead, but guard Jeremiah Fears came up short on a one-on-one free throw opportunity.

Washington, which had 11 points and six boards, grabbed the rebound.

The Aggies went downfield and got the ball to Phelps. He faked a drive that tripped an OU defender.

Phelps then calmly stepped back behind the arc and took the game-winning shot.

“Everything we tried they took advantage of and had almost perfect success,” Williams said. “But I think the character of our guys and the relationships they have with each other… I thought they were just hanging around. I don’t think they ever lost their heads.”

“They’ve been very accountable to each other and what we’re trying to do. We are very lucky that we won.”