Sooners Clinch Victory Over Baylor in Final Regular Season Game, 46-41

NORMAN, Okla. -- A couple of freshmen rescued what was already a tumultuous Senior Day for Oklahoma.

Drew Lavender scored 10 points and Lawrence McKenzie hit a pair of free throws with 21.4 seconds left, helping the Sooners avert a loss that would have been disastrous to its NCAA tournament hopes with a 46-41 victory over Baylor on Saturday.

Oklahoma (18-9, 8-8) will probably still need a win or two in next week's Big 12 tournament to clinch an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. The Sooners, who will be the seventh seed, will face 10th-seeded Nebraska in the first round.

The victory, however, showed just how far the three-time defending Big 12 tournament champions have fallen this season.

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The Sooners almost lost to the Bears (8-21, 3-13), who have only seven scholarship players, despite forcing 18 turnovers, outrebounding them 36-24 and playing before a crowd anticipating an easy victory on Senior Day.

It was Oklahoma's lowest point total in a victory since Jan. 31, 1959, a span of 1,344 games.

"We've had our share of injuries, distractions and freshmen to teach," coach Kelvin Sampson said. "But we're 18-9 not 9-18. OU usually does well in the Big 12 tournament."

Oklahoma was again without senior center Jabahri Brown, who was suspended indefinitely after being charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Brown sat on the bench during the game, wearing a black suit with a beige shirt. He clapped his hands and encouraged his teammates throughout. Many of the Sooners scribbled Brown's uniform number -- 21 -- on their sneakers.

After the game, Brown nearly came to tears as he publicly apologized at midcourt during a ceremony for the departing seniors -- himself and Jason Detrick.

"I'm very sorry I left you all in his predicament," Brown said over the public announcement system. "It kills me that I couldn't continue with the team. I wish I could be there every step of the way."

Baylor ends its painful season here because of self-imposed penalties stemming from major NCAA violations under former coach Dave Bliss. The Bears would have qualified for the Big 12 tournament had they been allowed to go -- a credit to first-year coach Scott Drew.

Drew managed to keep the team competitive even though Baylor's three leading scorers and top freshman recruit transferred after the program erupted in tragedy and scandal following the murder of a teammate during the summer.

"We were able to lay a foundation this year," Drew said. "Hopefully in the future Baylor will be competitive, credible and respected."

The Bears almost pulled off its biggest win of the year in the finale.

Baylor went on a 14-2 run to open the second half, taking a 32-22 lead on Terrance Thomas' soaring layup along the baseline with about 13 minutes left.

From there, however, Oklahoma controlled the pace of the game.

The Sooners pounded the undersized Bears on the boards, and slowly whittled away at the deficit. McKenzie tied the game at 33-all on a scoop layup with 8:28 to go.

Oklahoma took its first lead since the early minutes of the second half, 40-39, on Detrick's 3-pointer with 2:45 left.

Thomas pulled Baylor within 42-41 on another layup with 41.7 seconds to go, but McKenzie's free throws sealed the victory for Oklahoma.

"In the second half we came ready to play," Oklahoma forward Johnnie Gilbert said. "Our emphasis on the second half was hitting the boards harder and we did."