By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            NORMAN, Okla. – Even after Baylor missed 13 of its first 16 shots from 3-point range, it didn't keep the 21^st-ranked Bears from dipping back into that well when Saturday's game at Oklahoma was on the line.
            Jalen Bridges and Adam Flagler hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the last 1 ½ minutes to help the Bears pull off a 62-60 come-from-behind win over the Sooners Saturday afternoon at the Lloyd Noble Center.
            After struggling most of the day from outside the arc, the Bears (14-5, 4-3) hit their last four in a row and handed the Sooners (11-8, 2-5) their fourth league loss by four points or fewer.
            "I knew that Jalen was hot, and we made an effort in the huddle to make sure we were getting him the ball," Flagler said. "Keyonte (George), LJ (Cryer), all being selfless, wanting to get him the ball, knowing he's hot. We have so much confidence in him, and I know he's ready for these moments. We just believe in him."
            Quiet for most of the game, Bridges hit three-straight 3-pointers, the last one giving Baylor a 59-58 lead with 1:25 left in the game.
            "Just credit my teammates for finding me when I'm open," Bridges said. "I had three really good looks. The coaching staff trusted me on that last one. Coach (Scott) Drew said, 'When Jalen makes that 3, go down and get a stop.' He always instills confidence in us."
            Almost on cue, the Bears got that stop, with OU's Grant Sherfield missing a runner off the glass. And then, with the shot clock winding down, Flagler provided the dagger with a deep step-back 3-pointer from the right wing that made it a four-point game with 20.2 seconds left.
            "Huge bucket by Adam," Drew said. "Credit Oklahoma, they played great defense and Jalen Hill was all over him the whole game, making things difficult. It was really a big-time play by Adam in a big moment."
            After George blocked a 3-pointer by CJ Noland out of bounds, Hill scored on a layup with 1.3 seconds left to make it a two-point game. But Baylor survived a review on one inbounds play, then got it into Flagler to run the time off the clock to clinch the Bears' third-straight road win and fourth overall.
            "It's huge," said Flagler, who had 16 points and five assists, hitting 2-of-4 from outside the arc. "I want to give God all the glory, the opportunity we have to use this platform and continue to spread joy and coach with joy. Oklahoma's a battle-tested team, a very hard-fought team. We just wanted to come out and execute, and that's what we did."
            While Baylor shot just 35.7% in the first half, including 1-of-8 from 3-point range, Oklahoma came back from an early six-point deficit to go up 30-26 at the break. Sherfield and Tanner Groves combined to hit 4-of-8 from distance in giving OU the lead.
            George hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 55-second stretch to tie the game at 36-36 and then converted a three-point play to knot the score again at 50-50. But it was Bridges' three-straight 3-pointers that sparked Baylor's closing run.
            "Jalen deserves all the credit," Drew said. "He's really been working hard, he's been putting in extra time. He's a great model for young kids. He started this year really struggling. There are two things you can do, you can complain and pout about it, or you can work on it. And he's really worked on it. His hard work has paid off."
            Despite scoring just two points in the first 35 minutes, Bridges had his fifth-straight double-digit game with 11 points and eight rebounds, hitting 3-of-5 from outside the arc. George had one of his toughest games with four turnovers, four missed free throws (3-for-7) and 3-for-12 shooting overall, but still gave the Bears a third double-figure scorer with 11 points
            Flo Thamba chipped in with six points and 10 rebounds, helping Baylor win the battle of the boards, 39-30, and dominate second-chance points, 30-12.
            "Our guards did a good job attacking the paint," Drew said. "And when you put pressure on the defense, it makes it tougher to rebound. Our guys do a great job competing on the glass. Oklahoma's one of the best block-out teams, so you have to earn every rebound. Our guys had a great effort today."
            Oklahoma, coming off a 72-56 loss to Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Rivalry, was led by Hill and Groves with 17 and 16 points, respectively. The Sooners' four other losses in conference play have been by a combined 10 points.
            In a quick turnaround, Baylor will host second-ranked Kansas (16-3, 5-2) in an ESPN "Big Monday" game at 8 p.m. Monday at the Ferrell Center. The Jayhawks have suffered rare back-to-back losses, falling 83-82 on the road at Kansas State and then getting blown out by 14^th-ranked TCU, 83-60, Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.