• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Thomas, OU top Baylor

Jan 4, 2015 - 1:40 AM Norman, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - TaShawn Thomas scored 24 points with eight rebounds as No. 18 Oklahoma nabbed a 73-63 win over 22nd-ranked Baylor to open Big 12 action.

Buddy Hield had 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Cousins added 19 points and eight boards for the Sooners (10-3, 1-0 Big 12), who have won their last three.

"It was a good way to open conference play," said Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger. "I thought it was really played at a high level. I thought both teams in the first half had what they wanted offensively and I thought both did a better job defensively in the second half."

Johnathan Motley scored 24 points and Taurean Prince gave 17 for the Bears (11-2, 0-1), who had a six-game winning streak broken.

"Well I thought this was a typical Big 12 game in what the season will be about, and that it was hard fought," said Baylor head coach Scott Drew. "I thought both teams defended. We shot 37 percent and they shot 40 percent. I think both teams feel that they could have played better and done things better."

The teams stayed close through the first part of the first half until Lester Medford hit a pair of 3-pointers two minutes apart to give Baylor a 23-16 lead with 8 1/2 minutes left.

Oklahoma came right back with a jumper from Thomas and a pair of 3s from Hield to take the lead back a minute later.

With the score tied late in the half, Thomas made another bucket and Cousins closed the half with a jumper to give the Sooners a 37-33 lead at the break.

Leading by two, the Sooners got seven straight points, with Cousins' 3-pointer giving the team a 46-37 lead just over four minutes in.

Baylor tried to keep up and kept the game close, but Hield's 3-ball with just over six minutes to play gave the team a 58-46 lead, and the Sooners cruised from there.

Game Notes

Oklahoma plays at Texas on Monday ... Baylor hosts Kansas on Wednesday ... The Sooners shot 40.7 percent and grabbed 40 rebounds, while Baylor made 37.3 percent of its attempts, and nabbed 35 boards ... Oklahoma has dominated the series with Baylor, 42-11.