By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
At the very least, Baylor has given itself to remain in the picture for a share of the Big 12 championship.
Without one-and-done Keyonte George, back in Waco resting a sprained ankle, and then losing super sub Langston Love to a scratched eye in the first half, the shorthanded Bears found enough to hang on to a much needed victory in the road finale on Big Monday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, OK.
Baylor won its eighth straight in Oklahoma State's building but watched a 19-point lead inside the final minutes cut to four (69-65) with 37 seconds to play. However, they made enough free throws to hang on.
The Bears never trailed in this game and once again received a strong contribution from guard Dale Bonner who scored a Baylor career-high 15 and tied LJ Cryer for team-high honors.
But it was a balanced attack attack as Adam Flagler also added 13 and Jalen Bridges scored 14. The Bears were hot in the first half drilling 8-16 from the arc. However, they were only 3-15 in the second half.
The Bears led 41-30 at the intermission and kept the NCAA tournament desperate Cowboys at arm's length. That was until the Cowboys went on a 19-4 run over the next 4:30 to trim the gap to 69-65 with 37 seconds to play.
Bonner and Flagler, though, combined to go 5-6 in the final 25 seconds to finish their Big 12 road record at 5-4. Baylor finished 17-20 at the line.
The Bears also had to withstand the Cowboys winning the glass, 40-32 including 22 offensive rebounds. However, the Big 12's second-worst 3-point shooting team (31.8 percent) stayed true to that narrative and was just 9-32. (28.1).
As for the Big 12 race, the Bears' hopes now cling to what Kansas does Tuesday at home against Texas Tech. A Jayhawks' win eliminates the Bears.
However, the Bears are also playing to somehow snare the third seed as they are a half game ahead of Kansas State. The Wildcats, who own the tiebreaker because they swept the two meetings, are home to Oklahoma Wednesday.
Baylor completes the regular season with senior day at 11:00 a.m. Saturday against Iowa State.
Postgame Notes
Publisher
At the very least, Baylor has given itself to remain in the picture for a share of the Big 12 championship.
Without one-and-done Keyonte George, back in Waco resting a sprained ankle, and then losing super sub Langston Love to a scratched eye in the first half, the shorthanded Bears found enough to hang on to a much needed victory in the road finale on Big Monday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, OK.
Baylor won its eighth straight in Oklahoma State's building but watched a 19-point lead inside the final minutes cut to four (69-65) with 37 seconds to play. However, they made enough free throws to hang on.
The Bears never trailed in this game and once again received a strong contribution from guard Dale Bonner who scored a Baylor career-high 15 and tied LJ Cryer for team-high honors.
But it was a balanced attack attack as Adam Flagler also added 13 and Jalen Bridges scored 14. The Bears were hot in the first half drilling 8-16 from the arc. However, they were only 3-15 in the second half.
The Bears led 41-30 at the intermission and kept the NCAA tournament desperate Cowboys at arm's length. That was until the Cowboys went on a 19-4 run over the next 4:30 to trim the gap to 69-65 with 37 seconds to play.
Bonner and Flagler, though, combined to go 5-6 in the final 25 seconds to finish their Big 12 road record at 5-4. Baylor finished 17-20 at the line.
The Bears also had to withstand the Cowboys winning the glass, 40-32 including 22 offensive rebounds. However, the Big 12's second-worst 3-point shooting team (31.8 percent) stayed true to that narrative and was just 9-32. (28.1).
As for the Big 12 race, the Bears' hopes now cling to what Kansas does Tuesday at home against Texas Tech. A Jayhawks' win eliminates the Bears.
However, the Bears are also playing to somehow snare the third seed as they are a half game ahead of Kansas State. The Wildcats, who own the tiebreaker because they swept the two meetings, are home to Oklahoma Wednesday.
Baylor completes the regular season with senior day at 11:00 a.m. Saturday against Iowa State.
Postgame Notes
- BU is 36-57 all time against the Pokes.
- The Bears are 33-25 since the two joined the Big 12.
- BU has won 14 of the last 17 overall against OSU
- The Bears have won eight-straight against the Cowboys in Stillwater.
- The Bears are 26-9 in Big 12 road games over the last four seasons.
- Baylor is 54-14 in Big 12 play over the last four years, best of any Power 5 team
- BU is 19-4 (9-3) this season when leading at the half.
- The Bears have won 77-straight games when shooting a higher percentage than the opponent.
- Baylor used the starting lineup of Adam Flagler, Langston Love, LJ Cryer, Jalen Bridges and Flo Thamba for the first time this season.
- Bonner scored a new Baylor career-high with 15 points.
- Bonner scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time in his BU career.
- With 15 points, Cryer eclipsed the 15-point mark for the 15th time this season.
- 40 minutes played is a new career-high for Cryer.
- Bridges scored 14 points, his 17th game in double figures this season. BU improved to 15-2 when he notches double-figure points.
- Bridges fouled out for the first time this season.
- Flagler scored 13 points, his 45th double-figure scoring game in his last 49 chances.
- Flagler led the team in assists (6) for a 20th time.
- Love left the game with an eye injury in the first half and did not return.
