Baylor Basketball’s Season Comes to a Close with Semifinal Loss to Oklahoma in the Crown

LAS VEGAS – Baylor men’s basketball (17-17) saw its season come to a close, following an 82-69 defeat to Oklahoma (21-15) in the semifinals of the College Basketball Crown Tournament on Saturday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena.

In potentially their last games in the Green and Gold, Cameron Carr (RSo.) scored 14 points on 4-of-18 shooting and hauled in 12 rebounds, while Tounde Yessoufou (Fr.) chipped in 15 points and three blocks.

The Bears were inefficient in the loss, shooting 39% (24-62) from the floor and 20% (6-30) from beyond the arc. Baylor also turned the ball over 12 times, leading to 21 easy points for the Sooners.

Oklahoma shot 50% (30-60) from the floor, with guards Xzayvier Brown (Jr.) and Nijel Pack (6Sr.) combined for 36 points. The Bears narrowly won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding OU, 38-to-33.

Head coach Scott Drew’s squad started the contest sluggishly, and the Sooners took advantage, leading for the majority of the first half and taking a 45-35 lead going into the halftime locker room.

Forward Dan Skillings (Sr.) kept the Bears afloat early on, scoring seven of his 12 points in the first half. Yessoufou also had 11 points in the first half on 4-of-7 shooting, but as a team, Baylor was 2-of-14 from the 3-point line.

The Bears came out with a spark in the second half and took their first lead since the opening minutes of the contest, 52-51, with 13:16 remaining. Guard Isaac Williams IV (So.) gave Baylor a boost, with 13 points in the second half; he finished with 15 points and 5-of-10 shooting.

The Sooners took back control at the under-eight mark and led the rest of the way, ending the game on a 31-17 run. The Bears shot 25% (4-16) from deep in the second half.