University of Oklahoma Athletics
University of Oklahoma
11-8,2-5Big 12
Baylor
14-5,4-3Big 12
Sooners Fall to No. 21/22 Baylor
January 21, 2023 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN – Tanner Groves and Jalen Hill combined for 33 points and 18 rebounds and Oklahoma men's basketball dropped its home contest against No. 21/22 Baylor 62-60 Saturday night at Lloyd Noble Center.
Hill recorded a team-best 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting and wrangled nine boards, including a team-high three on the offensive glass. Groves added 16 points and matched Hill with nine boards. The Spokane, Wash., product tallied three blocks and two assists.
The Bears (14-5, 4-3 Big 12) jumped out to an early lead and maintained their advantage through the first 13 minutes. Otega Oweh provided a spark off the bench to give Oklahoma its first lead.
Following a Sam Godwin dunk, Oweh swiped the ball as Baylor proceeded down the court and dashed to hoop for a thunderous slam. Baylor regained its lead after a pair of free throws and an Adam Flagler jumper. Oweh replicated the same task, swiping the Baylor guard and finishing at the rim with a soft lay in.
T. Groves pushed the Sooners ahead for the remainder of the half after back-to-back 3-pointers. Oklahoma (11-8, 2-5 Big 12) entered the break up 30-26.
Similar to the first half, both sides traded baskets and with 5:12 left it was knotted at 50.
Oklahoma found itself on top after a pair of T. Groves free throws and fell back one on a Jalen Bridges 3-pointer. T. Groves answered the call and scored on the next OU possession to put the Sooners back up. Bridges continued his efficient shooting stroke and buried his second 3-pointer of the night.
Hill brought the score to 56-all and C.J. Noland softly put in a lob from Milos Uzan, giving the Sooners the two points advantage with 1:40 left.
Bridges' hot hand continued and he netted his third 3-pointer in as many minutes. With Baylor up one, Flagler found the bottom of the net from three as the shot clock expired, putting the Bears up four. Hill dropped in his final two points and the Sooners were unable to force a turnover on the final Baylor possession, concluding the contest at 62-60.
The Sooners shot 45.6% (26-57) from the field and limited the potent Baylor offense to 36.2% (21-58). OU dished out 15 assists and the Bears only recorded four dimes.
