WACO, Texas – In a rematch of the 2021 Big 12 Championship, the No. 16 Baylor Bears (3-2) came up short against the No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-0) by a score of 36-25 on Saturday at McLane Stadium.
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Shapen connected with Monaray Baldwin for two second-half TDs.
The Bears fought back from a 23-3 deficit and were driving to tie the game at 33 apiece midway through the fourth quarter when a Blake Shapen pass went right through Gavin Holmes’s hands into the arms of Thomas Harper, an OSU defender.
The Cowboys capitalized by kicking a field goal to go up two scores and ice the victory.
Despite the defeat, Shapen and Monaray Baldwin connected on two touchdowns in the second half in an attempt to will the Bears to victory. Shapen finished with 345 yards and two interceptions on 28-of-40 passing. While Baldwin caught seven passes for 174 yards.
Heading into Saturday, it was well-known that Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders struggled mightly against the Bears last season.
In his two contests versus Baylor in 2021, Sanders threw seven interceptions and only one touchdown. However, he was great in today’s win, throwing for 181 yards and a TD while rushing for 79 yards and a TD on the ground.
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No. 9 Oklahoma State finished with 379 yards of offense.
The Bears struggled to execute on offense in the first half. Despite putting up three points on the first drive of the game, the offense was unable to get back in the endzone for the remainder of the half.
For the fourth consecutive game, Baylor’s defense allowed a quick touchdown before the end of the first half. Sanders led the Pokes 55-yards down the field and capped off the drive with a 1-yard rushing TD to take a 16-3 lead heading into halftime.
After allowing a kick return touchdown to open the half, Baylor’s offense began to come alive, scoring 22 points in the third quarter to cut the deficit to only 33-25 OSU heading into the fourth.
