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Baylor vs. Oklahoma State score, takeaways: No. 1 Bears suddenly struggling, lose second straight at home

Sat, Jan 15, 2022
NCAAB News (AP)

Top-ranked Baylor became the first team ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 to ever lose two home games in the same week on Saturday when the Bears lost 61-54 against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys (9-7, 2-3 Big 12) had lost four of five entering the game but kept the Bears (15-2, 3-2) out of sync offensively to pick up a huge road win that showcases just how rigorous the Big 12 is this season.

Baylor shot just 25.8% from the floor in the first half as the Cowboys opened up a 34-22 lead entering the break. Baylor rallied in the second half and had two chances to take the lead or tie in the final 35 seconds. But a pair of Adam Flagler turnovers doomed their. chances.

Oklahoma State is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament this season, so there aren't resume implications for the Cowboys as a result of the victory. But winning on the road against the nation's top-ranked team is nevertheless significant for fifth-year coach Mike Boynton.

It's been an up-and-down season thus far for the Cowboys following the departure of No. 1 overall draft pick Cade Cunningham from last season's team, which reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed. But with wins over then-No. 14 Texas and now Baylor in hand, the program has clearly found motivation to play hard-nosed defense in spite of the postseason ban. They entered with the nation's No. 15 ranked defense, according to KenPom.com, and it came through in a big way against an offensive juggernaut.

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