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

On Saturday, Baylor lost 61-54 to Oklahoma State, making history as the first No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 to lose two home games in the same week. The Cowboys (9-7, 2-3 Big 12), losers of four straight games coming into the contest, kept the Bears (15-2, 3-2) out of offensive sync and came away with a crucial road win that highlighted how tough the Big 12 has been this season.

Oklahoma State Vs. Baylor Football Five Takeaways From Cowboys ...

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Baylor’s Poor Shooting Performance

The Cowboys jumped out to a 34-22 advantage at the half despite Baylor’s poor shooting performance (25.8% from the field). Second-half Baylor came back and had two opportunities to win or tie in the final 35 seconds. However, their prospects were eliminated by Adam Flagler’s two turnovers.

Since Oklahoma State cannot participate in the NCAA tournament this year, the victory does not help the Cowboys’ resume. Though Mike Boynton is a seasoned head coach, he still recognises the significance of his team’s road victory over the number one team in the country.

After losing No. 1 overall draught pick Cade Cunningham from last year’s squad, which was a No. 4 seed and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Cowboys have had a roller-coaster of a season. But the programme has definitely found motivation to play hard-nosed defence in spite of the postseason restriction, as seen by wins over then-No. 14 Texas and now No. 18 Baylor. According to KenPom.com, their defence came in at No. 15 in the country and performed admirably against an offensive powerhouse.

Thompson Goes For The Gold

Bryce Thompson, a sophomore for Oklahoma State, scored 19 points, 12 of which came in the second half. The 6-5 guard from Tulsa, Oklahoma, a former five-star prospect, transferred back to his home state after a season at Kansas and had a breakout game on Saturday. His 8.5 points per game averaged third on the team, but he stepped up his game against Baylor’s elite guards.

Thompson iced the game with four critical free throws in the final 30 seconds to stop a Baylor comeback, and he punctuated the victory with a slam as time expired. Due to the postseason prohibition, Thompson may not receive another stage as enormous as Saturday’s until next year. He came through at the right time, which benefited both his team and himself.

New No. 1

Baylor spent their fifth consecutive week at the top of the rankings, but two straight losses have eliminated them from contention. Just who will it be? The two strongest arguments can be made by Gonzaga (ranked #2) and Auburn (ranked #4). After trouncing a strong BYU squad 110-84 on Thursday, the Zags annihilated Santa Clara 115-83 on Saturday. After the Red Raiders’ subsequent wins against Baylor and Kansas, the Bulldogs’ 69-55 victory over Texas Tech on December 18 also appears better than it did at the time.

However, voters may be hesitant to put the Zags back atop the polls ahead of Auburn, who has only one loss and will face Ole Miss on Saturday night. The Tigers are on a roll after winning 12 straight games because to a talented squad led by top-pick candidate Jabari Smith.