What we learned from Oklahoma’s win over Baylor
Oklahoma beat Baylor, 79-63, to reach the Elite Eight for the second time in four seasons.
The Cowboys (12-3, 6-3 Big 12) won for the first time since Feb. 25.
They also won their second game in four days.
The win was Oklahoma’s third straight over the Bears in the series.
The loss kept Oklahoma from reaching the Elite Four for the third straight season.
“We played well and played hard,” said center Kevin Ollie, who scored 19 points.
“You don’t get a win like that coming out of a game like that.
And then, after that, we can talk about the next game.” “
Just play as hard as we could.
And then, after that, we can talk about the next game.”
Oklahoma’s best offensive performance came when Ollies son, Jordan, grabbed a loose ball with 1:02 left.
The freshman grabbed the ball and ran to the baseline for a layup, but the ball bounced off the rim and bounced off his right leg, and he lay down on the court for a technical foul.
The ball landed in the stands, and Olli was ejected.
The coach later told reporters that he believed Jordan had lost his footing.
Baylor’s Jordan Hicks missed his third consecutive field goal.
The Bears had three 3-pointers and three free throws in the final minute.
“There’s no way to play in this league and not be scared,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said.
“But the one thing that’s really scary is to play against this type of team.”
OU led 59-50 at halftime, and Baylor held a 53-50 edge on the boards.
Baylor held the Cowboys to 19 points in the first half, including five in the paint.
Ollied scored eight of his 14 points in a row in the second half, and the Bears went on a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma went on an 11-0 spurt midway through the second quarter, and had 14 second-half points.
The Sooners scored a season-high 23 points off the Baylor bench, including nine in the third quarter.
OU’s offense had a big bounce in the 3rd quarter, as Ollief had a layin in his backcourt and a 3-pointer.
He made two 3-point attempts and added another with 2:21 left.
OU outrebounded Baylor by 13 in the quarter.
“I didn’t see much in the game, but they did,” Baylor coach Lon Krystkowiak said.
OU led by as many as 22 points in its next four quarters.
Baylor, however, closed the half with a 19-2 run to pull within three with 14:23 left.
But the Bears scored the next 12 points to get within seven.
Oklahoma made 14 of its first 20 shots to open up a 56-52 lead.
But OU scored 10 of the next 11 points to pull to 66-62 with 6:16 to play.
“That’s one of the toughest things we’ve had to deal with all year,” Kruger, who coached Oklahoma to the Big 12 title game in 2011, said.
“(We) got to come out with the confidence that we can get the job done.
We got to stay focused.”
OU held Baylor to 18 points in transition, including a lay-in on a 2-point play by sophomore guard Anthony Bennett.
OU scored 19 straight points to lead 56-45 with 3:24 left in the half.
But Oklahoma closed the quarter on a 14-2 spurt.
OU made 10 of 16 shots in the period.
“It was an emotional win for our team,” Baylor head coach Lon Cronin said.
Oklahoma’s top two scorers, Cameron Smith and Isaiah Briscoe, both scored in double figures.
Baylor had 15 players score in double-figures, including four starters.
Oklahoma coach John Calipari said the win gave him hope he would be in the Final Four for his first season as an assistant.
“This is a win for me.
I had some bad nights, but this is one of those nights that was probably a little more challenging for me,” Caliparrian said.
Baylor finished the game on a 7-3 run to close the half, capped by a 3 with 2 1/2 minutes left.
Oklahoma led 51-40 at halftime.
The score was tied at 57 at halftime after two 3s by Briscoes.
Oklahoma got within seven at 73-71 with 4:37 left in overtime, but Baylor took the lead on a 3 by Olliah with 2 minutes left in regulation.
Baylor hit a 3 and Olliied made a 3 on the next possession to cut the lead to 65-67.
OU was down by 16 with 6 minutes to play before halftime.
Baylor got back to within two at 78-71 after a layby by Olliie with 10:35 left. That was
