STILLWATER – Oklahoma State went on an impressive run late to make it a four-point game, but poor shooting most of the night resulted in a 74-68 loss to No. 7 Baylor.
With the loss, the Cowboys fall to 16-14 overall and 7-10 in Big 12 play. The loss marks the Pokes fifth-straight, and they’ll have a chance to end that streak in their final game of the regular season at Texas Tech on Saturday, March 4.
John-Michael Wright led the way in scoring for the Pokes with 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field, 4-of-11 from 3-point range. He also recorded five rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes of play.
John Diaz - Pokes Report
Freshman Quion Williams posted a career-high 12 points, clearing his previous high of 11. He went 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point range. He also recorded six rebounds.
Caleb Asberry also scored double figures with 12 points on 4-of-12 from the field, but just 2-of-10 from 3-point range.
For the game, the Cowboys shot nearly 40% from the field, going 27-of-68 from the field and 28% from 3-point range on 9-of-32 shooting.
The Cowboys led the way in rebounds 40-32, including 22-13 on the offensive end. They also outscored the Bears in the paint 34-18 and turned the ball over just 10 times.
It was a bad shooting night for the Pokes for nearly all 40 minutes. They shot 35% from the field and just 22% from 3-point range in the first half. Despite the poor shooting, the Pokes kept it close for most of the first half.
In fact, it was a three-point game with 9:11 remaining in the half, which also included a more than five-minute scoring drought by the Bears.
The Bears’ LJ Cryer, however, ended that scoring drought with a big 3-pointer with seven minutes remaining in the half. Kalib Boone hit a quick bucket of his own, but it was the only bucket during a 14-2 Baylor run on the other end, making it a 15-point game, 35-20.
The Cowboys cut their deficit a little bit before half, but went into the break trailing by 11, 41-30.
Most of the second half wasn’t much better as the Bears held a 13-point lead with 10 minutes left in the game. Bryce Thompson hit a big layup a minute a half later to get the crowd on its feet, but BU’s Adam Flagler hit an equally impressive bucket on the other end to take it back up to 13 points.
The Cowboys dialed it in in the final three minutes of the game as they went on a 12-2 run and cutting Baylor’s lead down to just seven, 69-62, with :46 to go. Jalen Bridges committed his fifth foul of the game, turning the ball over in the process, which led to a huge three by John-Michael Wright, making it a four-point game, 69-65, with just :35 to go.
They extended their run up to 15-2, including a 6-0 run in the final minute. Caleb Asberry fouled Bonner with :25 remaining, where the Bears went back up by six, 71-65. Wright was fouled by Flo Thamba, who picked up his fifth foul in the process. Unfortunately, Wright missed the first and made the second, making it a five-point game, 71-66.
John Diaz - Pokes Report
Thompson fouled out on the ensuing inbounds play to try and give the Pokes a chance with :12 remaining, in which Woody Newton recorded a dunk, but it was a little bit late as the Bears held on for a 74-68 win.
Next up for the Pokes is a trip down to Lubbock on Saturday, March 4, with a showdown with Texas Tech.
