No. 13 Oklahoma Rebounds Against Baylor

Feb. 17, 2001

Quotes

By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. - Everything that went wrong for Oklahoma (No. 14 ESPN/USA Today, No. 13 AP) a few nights earlier went just right against Baylor on Saturday.

The Sooners, coming off a 28-point loss at Oklahoma State on Wednesday, sank a season-high 14 3-pointers and controlled Baylor from the start in an 82-60 victory.

J.R. Raymond had a career-high seven 3s and finished with 24 points. After making just 34 percent of their shots and a season-low two 3-pointers against Oklahoma State, the Sooners hit 54.5 percent including 14-of-24 from 3-point range.

"What we did last Saturday to me was something we really used Thursday and Friday in making sure our kids understand we're a very good basketball team," coach Kelvin Sampson said, referring to Oklahoma's 75-54 victory at Texas.

"What happened Wednesday night, those things are going to happen on the road sometimes. You grin and bear it and get through it, but you don't dwell on it."

The Sooners (20-5, 9-4 Big 12) moved into second place in the conference by beating Baylor for the 14th straight time.

The Bears (16-7, 5-7) were coming off an upset victory against Kansas on Monday, but were never a threat while shooting 35 percent.

"I don't think we came into this game with anything other than knowing we had to have the same energy level," coach Dave Bliss said. "I thought we had the same energy at the start.

"I don't subscribe to the theory that it's an emotional letdown. It may have been, but I don't agree with that. I think, obviously, the Sooners a pretty good basketball team."

Raymond was 7-of-9 from 3-point range and also had eight assists, six rebounds and no turnovers. He is now 21-of-29 from 3-point range against Baylor in the past two years.

"Being a point guard, you can't think about your numbers that much," he said. "You can think about turnovers and assists, but I don't worry about getting shots."

Aaron McGhee scored 16 and Hollis Price had 10 for Oklahoma, which has won eight of its past nine.

"It was such a relief to get a win today after the embarrassment on Wednesday," McGhee said. "We wanted to prove that we are as good as our ranking."

Terry Black, who missed seven minutes in the first half after suffering a cut over his left eye, scored 25 for Baylor.

Raymond had four 3-pointers in the first half when the Sooners scored one fewer point than they did all night against Oklahoma State.

Baylor, which came in shooting just 41.6 percent in conference games, missed 10 of 11 shots during one first-half stretch while Oklahoma outscored them 12-2. The final two baskets were 3-pointers by Raymond that pushed Oklahoma's lead to 29-13.

Oklahoma held Baylor to one field goal in the final five minutes to lead 43-24 at halftime.

The second half resembled a playground game at times, with the teams trading baskets and wasting little time taking shots. Oklahoma led by as many as 34, then scored just two points in the final seven minutes.

"We're Baylor. We aren't a team that has 37 weapons," Bliss said. "We're getting better. There were some things we didn't do as well tonight and we met a team that is really a good basketball team. When they play like that, it's difficult to guard them."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

No. 13 Oklahoma Rebounds Against Baylor

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