NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — After having to watch the Bedlam rivalry from the bench a season ago, Amath M'Baye couldn't wait for his chance to actually play in it.
As soon as Oklahoma finished its comeback victory at West Virginia a week ago, M'Baye was already getting psyched about the chance to face Oklahoma State. Even better, when his chance finally arrived, M'Baye came through with the plays to put the game away.
M'Baye scored seven straight points during a second-half spurt and the Sooners beat Oklahoma State 77-68 on Saturday.
"I was getting more excited and more excited throughout the whole year. I always love rivalry games, and in the Big 12 there's plenty of that," M'Baye said.
Romero Osby scored 17 points, and M'Baye and freshman Buddy Hield added 15 apiece as Oklahoma (11-3, 2-0 Big 12) defended its home court in the Bedlam rivalry for the ninth straight season. The Cowboys (11-4, 1-2) haven't won in Norman since 2004, when they went on to win the Big 12 championship and reach the Final Four.
The Sooners went 8 for 13 from 3-point range (61.5 percent). The team had been making just 31 percent of its 3-point attempts this season and hadn't made more than 42 percent in any previous game.
"We shot the ball well. It seemed like we made shots at critical times," Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. "Whenever they were just ready to get over the hump, we'd make a shot to take it from four back to seven, or two back to five.
"The shots came at critical times. This is a club that can shoot better than we were earlier. Lately, we've shot it better."
Markel Brown scored 19 points to lead Oklahoma State, and star freshman Marcus Smart was limited by foul trouble and ended up with 10 points. The Cowboys have lost all three of their road games this season.
"Some kind of spell on us or something that we've got to get over. We've got to find a way to get good road wins in the Big 12," Brown said. "These type of games, they help you and they can hurt you for the tournament."
Oklahoma State has lost three of its last four games, falling out of the Top 25 after earning a ranking for the first time in five years. Coach Travis Ford's group is 11-0 when holding opponents to 65 points or less, and 0-4 when giving up more.
Next Story
