Baylor can't find offensive groove, falls 83-74 in Big 12 semifinals to OSU

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KANSAS CITY — The No. 2 Baylor men’s basketball team (22-2, 13-1) fell in the Big 12 Championship semifinal to No. 12 Oklahoma State (20-7, 11-7) in Kansas CIty, 83-74. 

This was certainly a tale of runs and stamina. The Bears were flat in the first half and couldn’t quite find footing, and things never picked up consistently in the final 20. This young Oklahoma State team will certainly be dangerous in March, and they proved so with a win tonight. 

The first half of this game was a weird fever dream filled with sporadic play, lackluster defense and John Higgins simply being John Higgins. Baylor would rush out to an 8-2 lead, but it quickly became an 11-8 Oklahoma State advantage. They were just so much faster. 

That advantage would waver here and there, but the Cowboys would ultimately hold on to the lead late in the half and find themselves up 35-30 at the break. It was Jared Butler, MaCio Teague and Davion Mitchell combining for 22 that led the Bears, but everyone else was nonexistent offensively. 

Moreover, Baylor shot a dismal 2-13 from deep and didn’t make it to the free-throw line once. The bench was outscored 10-4 and the Bears trailed fastbreak points 15-2. It’s tough to have a lead like that. 

Despite the bleak aura at the half, Baylor came out of the break poised. Things stayed close, but the Bears used a barrage of mini-runs to take the lead at 45-43 with 14 minutes to go. The lead would expand, but the Cowboys were just too good to let it get out of hand. 

The bad guys would eventually go up late in the game and find a way to hold it, finishing on a 13-2 run. 

Teague’s hot streak continued, but it just was not enough as Oklahoma State found its way to the 83-74 win. 

Win or lose, hats off to Mark Vital who finished with 15 boards. He was spectacular. We’ll see you next week in Indianapolis.