Markel Brown's buzzer-beating layup lifts OSU past Baylor in OT

BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Thursday, February 07, 2013
2/07/13 at 7:05 AM

STILLWATER - The final four seconds couldn't have gone much better for Oklahoma State.

The 22nd-ranked Cowboys were knotted up with Baylor in overtime when A.J. Walton went up for the Bears' potential winning shot under the basket.

As the ball was leaving Walton's hands, it was cleanly stuffed by Michael Cobbins and wound up in the hands of Markel Brown, who raced the length of the floor for a layup with .2 seconds left.

"I just figured we had come too far to give up a layup there at the end and put them up by two with the clock ticking down like that," Cobbins said. "I just went up and tried to get it. Thank God I got it."

The 69-67 victory Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena gave OSU a fourth consecutive win.

"It's late in the season," point guard Marcus Smart said. "That's when teams start to rise and teams start to fail."

After letting close ones against Gonzaga and Kansas State slip away, the Cardiac Cowboys found a way to win a third straight game in dramatic last-minute fashion.

"We went back and looked at those films, and it was always decided in the last two minutes," Brown said. "We did some two-minute drills and we had to toughen up on the defensive end and not give up offensive rebounds and extra shots."

OSU managed to overcome a dreadful shooting outing: 1-of-13 from the field to start the game and 1-of-18 on 3-pointers in regulation.

"I think they're a really good defensive team, but boy, we made a lot of bad decisions out there," coach Travis Ford said. "I hadn't seen that team from us in a while - shot selection and some different things."

Despite the struggles, the Cowboys strung together bits of offensive execution, including an 11-0 burst late in the first half, and seemed in control after halftime.

They were up by 14 with eight minutes remaining when Pierre Jackson went off, fueling 12 unanswered points that resulted in Baylor tying the game with 1:52 left.

"For that stretch they were going on, I wouldn't say that we were terrified, but we were a little cautious about it," Smart said. "We were thinking, 'We've got to get ourselves together.'"

When the stage appeared set for Smart's recent late-game heroics, he hit a jumper and then secured a steal.

But the shooting woes continued for the Cowboys, and a pair of Jackson free throws with six seconds left tied the game at 59 all and forced overtime.

OSU (16-5, 6-3 Big 12) didn't lead in overtime until the final shot. Jackson drained two 3-pointers, and after a dunk by Cory Jefferson, the Cowboys were in a bind.

A huge 3-pointer from Phil Forte tied the game with 1:12 left. OSU had a chance to retake the lead after Jackson turned the ball over, but Smart's typically reliable jumper fell short, setting up Baylor's foiled Walton winner.

"We've got some gutsy guys," said Ford, who surpassed his win total from a year ago. "We've got some guys out there that have won a lot of games. ... They know what it takes to win."

Although he shot 4-of-21 from the field, Smart paced OSU with 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals and no turnovers.

"I'm used to it," his coach said. " ... That's just what he does."

Jackson led the Bears (16-8, 5-4) with 24 points.

"He did everything in his power to help his team win, and we did everything in our power to stop him," Ford said.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OSU NIPS BAYLOR

Up next: At Texas • 12:30 p.m. Saturday • TV: KMYT-10/41 • Radio: KFAQ am1170
Original Print Headline: The finishing touch

Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Oklahoma State junior guard Markel Brown drives through the lane for the game-winning layup before time expired to give the Cowboys a 69-67 overtime win over Baylor at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Wednesday night. KT KING/For the Tulsa World

Oklahoma State fans celebrate the last-second overtime victory against Baylor on Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. KT KING/For the Tulsa World

Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart (right) hugs Baylor point guard Pierre Jackson after Oklahoma State's overtime win over Baylor. KT KING/For the Tulsa World

Oklahoma State freshman point guard Marcus Smart dives for a loose ball in Oklahoma State's 69-67 overtime win over Baylor at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater on Wednesday night. KT KING/For the Tulsa World