By Lion Athletics

For the first time in program history, the East Texas A&M University men’s basketball team recorded a win over a power conference opponent after defeating Oklahoma University 68-64 on Monday night in the season opener at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla.

The Lions beat a current SEC opponent for the first time, and Monday’s victory marked the first over a Division I opponent in their season opener since moving up to NCAA Division I.

Bo Aldridge (Topeka, Kan.) put ET ahead with 2:33 remaining after the game was tied 60-60, and the Lions never trailed again. Overall, the Lions held the lead for more than 75% of the game.

ET closed the first half by stretching a 22-21 lead at 7:44 into a 34-25 halftime advantage. Kollin Tolbert (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Aldridge scored consecutive baskets, a steal from Maxime Carrio (Nantes, France) steal helped set up an Aldridge 3-pointer, and Alonzo Dodd (St. Paul, Minn.) added another 3-pointer as ET held Oklahoma without a made field goal until 3:52. Earlier, Dodd hit 3-pointers that put ET ahead, and he finished the half with four of the team’s six 3s in the first 20 minutes.

ET’s second half was tougher, and the Sooners clawed back to tie the game at 60-60 with 2:51 left. Aldridge scored inside at 2:33 before Mohamed Diakite (Politiers, France) added two free throws and a dunk for a 66-60 lead. OU got back within two points, but a rebound from Gasper Skorjanc (Olimje, Slovenia) defensively with 3 seconds left led to two Aldridge free throws for the final points of a 68-64 win.

Aldridge scored 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, hit three 3-pointers and added five assists and two steals. Diakite finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Dodd made five 3-pointers and totaled 15 points, five rebounds and a block. Skorjanc recorded five assists and three rebounds.

Head Coach Jaret von Rosenberg, beginning his 10th season at the helm of Lion Men’s Basketball, had high praise for his team.

“We had guys step up and make big time plays down the stretch,” von Rosenberg said. “It was far from perfect, but when you play defense like we did in the first half, that gives you a chance to win any game.”

The Lion Men stay on the road as they head to Houston to face Rice University for just the third time ever on Nov. 5. The team’s first home game of the 2026-27 season is set for Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. as the Lions welcome Fairleigh Dickinson University to the Field House for Education Day. Get tickets at LionAthletics.com