OU men’s basketball (21-5) is championship game-bound after defeating Baylor (17-17) 82-69 in the College Basketball Crown semifinal on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Following a closely contested overtime win over Colorado (17-16) in Wednesday’s quarterfinal, the Sooners controlled the game throughout, leading for more than 35 of 40 minutes to secure a decisive win over the Bears. The victory marked another non-SEC power-four win this season, improving OU to 4-2.
Entering the matchup, OU was just 1-9 against Baylor in its last 10 matchups and 1-5 under head coach Porter Moser. The Sooners’ only prior win under Moser came in the 2022 Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal, a 72-67 victory. With a $300,000 prize on the line and a chance to close the season with a postseason championship, Moser’s group showcased the same form that defined its late-season push, a bounce back from a nine-game skid that left OU just four points shy of an NCAA Tournament berth after its SEC Tournament 82-79 quarterfinal loss to Arkansas.
While the programs are familiar as former conference rivals, the matchup carried personal meaning for two guards: OU junior Xzayvier Brown and Baylor senior Dan Skillings Jr.
The Philadelphia natives shared the court for multiple seasons at Roman Catholic High School, winning the 2022 Pennsylvania 6A state title as a prolific backcourt duo. Following Skillings’ graduation, Brown led Roman Catholic to the 2023 Philadelphia Catholic League title without his partner, marking Saturday’s matchup as the first time they have shared a court in four years.
This time around, Brown and new backcourt partner, senior guard Nijel Pack, led OU to a win to extend its season one more game. Brown led the way early, scoring 16 points in the first half to help OU claim a 45-35 advantage over the Bears at the break. Pack had a more understated first half, accruing just seven points and with only one make from deep. The roles reversed in the second half with Pack scoring eight points to Brown’s five, and the duo finished with a combined 36 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
OU’s frontcourt also saw similar success with forwards senior Tae Davis and sophomore Derrion Reid battling down low to dominate in the paint. The forward duo combined for 35 points, eight rebounds and six assists, with Davis extending his range beyond the 3-point line by knocking down both of his attempts from deep and Reid showcasing his speed during transition, blowing by defenders and attacking the rim.
Pack, Brown, Reid and Davis are part of a starting five that is the only major conference group in the country to start every game. All four players average double figures in scoring across the season and have played integral parts in OU’s late-season success, where the Sooners are now 8-2 in their last 10 games. While senior forward/center Mohamed Wague is also part of that group, his production dipped against the Bears due to foul trouble across the game, posting just two points, five rebounds and one assist.
Next, OU faces the winner of Creighton (16-17) vs. West Virginia (19-14) in the CBC championship game in Las Vegas at 4:30 p.m. Sunday on FOX.
This story was edited by Laurie Jones.
