Sooners Hold Off Baylor for Senior Night Win

^19/17Baylor

^6/6 Oklahoma

Stat Comparison
Category	BU	OU
Points	71	73
FGM-A	27-54	26-59
FG%	.400	.441
3 FGM-A	8-21	12-29
3 FG%	.381	.414
FTM-A	9-18	9-12
FT%	.500	.750
Rebounds	31	34
Assists	10	17
Turnovers	16	17
Blocks	2	2
Steals	11	6

Individual Leaders
Category	BU	OU
Points	Two Players - 17	B. Hield - 23
Rebounds	T. Prince - 9	R. Spangler - 13
Assists	L. Medford - 5	R. Spangler - 5
Steals	Two Players - 3	Two Players - 2
Blocks	Two Players - 1	Two Players - 1

NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma beat a Top 25 opponent on Senior Night, normally cause for celebration.

The joy was tempered because the sixth-ranked Sooners squandered a 26-point lead before regrouping to defeat No. 19 Baylor 73-71 on Tuesday night.

Buddy Hield scored 13 points in the game's first 8 minutes, but the Sooners fell apart in the second half.

"You can't afford to do that, especially this time of year," Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. "Obviously, you get into tournament play, and one bad stretch can cost you and end it all very quickly."

Seniors Hield, Ryan Spangler and Isaiah Cousins have started 97 consecutive games together, and all three played key roles in pulling it out for the Sooners. Spangler had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Cousins scored 10 points for Oklahoma.

Hield said he's proud of the impact the senior class has had on the program.

"Coming in my freshman year, me and Ryan, Isaiah here together -- how we grew so much and how our game evolved these last four years -- now we're having sold out arenas, so it's fun, and I appreciate the fans sticking with us for four years and supporting us," Hield said

The Sooners (23-6, 11-6 Big 12) broke a tie with Baylor for third place in the conference and swept the regular-season series.

Taurean Prince and King McClure scored 17 points each for Baylor (21-9, 10-7), which outscored the Sooners 46-27 in the second half. Baylor shot 67 percent in the second half and made 6 of 10 3-point attempts.

"I was proud of our comeback," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "A lot of teams would have given up or not come back, divided. Credit our leadership, players for keeping everybody focused and keep them confident. I thought it was a great team effort to come back."

Oklahoma went on an early 18-0 run and roared to a 26-3 lead on 9-for-13 shooting. Baylor didn't make its second field goal until more than 9 minutes had passed in the first half.

Baylor rallied to cut Oklahoma's lead to 32-17, but the Sooners responded with an 8-0 run to regain momentum. The Sooners led 46-25 at halftime after shooting 50 percent overall and from 3-point range. Oklahoma scored 16 points off turnovers before the break.

The Sooners began turning the ball over in the second half and allowed the Bears back into the game. Baylor took a 68-67 lead on a layup by Al Freeman.

The Sooners regained the lead on a jumper by Cousins and a layup by Hield. With the Sooners up 71-68, Baylor turned the ball over, and Hield made two free throws with 17.5 seconds left.

McClure quickly made a layup for Baylor, then Hield missed a free throw, giving the Bears one last chance. The Sooners fouled Prince with 2.4 seconds left. He made the first and missed the second intentionally. Hield got the ball in a scramble, and time expired.

"Good win," Kruger said. "We're not going to throw any back at this point. Obviously didn't finish it at all like we need to and wanted to, but a lot of good plays in the first 25-30 minutes and we've got to keep doing that."