Oklahoma State’s Upset Bid Falls Short Against No. 18 Baylor in Overtime
Oklahoma State started conference play with a heartbreaking loss.
OSU lost 75-70 to Baylor in overtime to snap a five-game winning streak. The loss also extended OSU’s losing streak in conference openers to eight, with the last win coming in the 2015-16 season.
Javon Small split free throws with 45.1 left in overtime to over OSU within one. After a stop, OSU turned it over with a chance to take the lead.
Baylor extended its lead to three and Bryce Thompson’s potential game-tying shot did not fall.
A late flagrant foul sent Brandon Garrison to the line, where he made two free throws to take the lead. He finished an alley-pop immediately after to cap off a four-point possession.
On the other end RayJ Dennis completed a four-point play of his own to tie the game. He then missed a potential game-winner as time expired to get to overtime.
Garrison gave OSU an immediate boost out of halftime. He helped spark a 6-0 run with a putback and an emphatic block, leading to free throws on the other.
Garrison finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. While that run gave the Cowboys a brief lead, the Bears responded with a 10-2 run.
After OSU had taken the lead, Baylor went on a 10-2 run to end the first half. All of Baylor’s scores in that run came at the rim, with Langston Love scoring six of his team-high 10 first-half points.
After making strides in their 3-point shooting early this season, the Cowboys struggled to find a rhythm on Saturday. They shot just 4-of-20 from beyond the arc against the Bears.
Baylor grabbed two offensive rebounds on the first possession of the game before Jayden Nunn got a bucket. That play was indicative of how the afternoon would go.
The Bears controlled the paint throughout the game, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds and outscoring the Cowboys by 14 in the paint.
Javon Small got things going early by scoring 10 of OSU’s first 16 points. Thanks to his scoring punch, OSU kept it close throughout the first half and entered halftime trailing by four.
The Cowboys will continue conference play on Tuesday when they visit Texas Tech.
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Ivan is a sports media student at Oklahoma State University. He has covered OSU athletics since 2022 and also covers the OKC Thunder for Inside The Thunder and Thunderous Intentions.