Instant Recap: Sooners Beat Cowboys at the Buzzer in OT to Win Final Bedlam

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STILLWATER — The neutral was treated to a delightful Big 12 Bedlam finale, but this one had to hurt the Cowboy faithful.

Oklahoma beat Oklahoma State 84-82 in overtime on Saturday in Gallagher-Iba Arena with Javian McCollum hitting a fadeaway 3 at the buzzer to take the game. OSU freshman guard Jamyron Keller played outstanding defense on the play, but it was just a better shot from McCollum.

The Shot ™@javian_0 | #BoomerSooner ☝ pic.twitter.com/QJu4bv2VsX

— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) February 24, 2024

To get to that point, John-Michael Wright hit perhaps an equally impressive 3 in the corner — giving OSU an 82-81 lead. After a timeout, the Cowboys kept the Sooners away from the basket — something both teams struggled with all day — but McCollum’s shot negated it all.

It was a back-and-forth affair throughout with teams trading baskets for much of the second half and in overtime. OU had a 6-0 run to start the second half, but that was the longest run from that point on.

The game wasn’t fast-paced, but it was an offensive show — much different than the game in Norman. OSU shot 57% from the field to OU’s 51%. Despite that, teams actually struggled from 3, going a combined 12-for-41. It was an old-school slug fest, with both teams scoring 54 points in the paint.

Javon Small had a chance to end things in regulation, as he was fouled with 3.6 seconds to play, but he missed the front end of a 1-and-1. The ball got tapped out of bounds and OSU had another shot from there, but Jarius Hicklen’s 3-point attempt with 0.6 seconds to play in regulation hit off the side of the backboard.

The Cowboys took a 38-30 lead into the half off the back of 11 points from Eric Dailey Jr. and another 10 from Small. Small was credited with just one assist in the half, but it was undeniable he was pulling the strings for the OSU offense in the half.

It was a hectic opening half, turning into a contact track meet for portions of it. Of the Sooners’ first 21 points, 20 came at the rim, as the Cowboys struggled defending OU’s pick-and-roll game. But the Cowboys got the hang of it midway through the half. After OU started the game 8-for-15 from the field, the Sooners finished the half 4-for-18 before getting it going in the second half.

OSU’s lead got as big as 11 in the first half, hitting that mark on a few occasions.

Both teams were dreadful from 3 early. The teams were a combined 0-for-11 from 3 before Wright benefited from a big bounce off the rim and finally got one to fall. Each team went into the locker room with a pair of 3-point makes, with OSU going 2-for-8 and OU going 2-for-14.

Dailey was the Cowboys’ player of the game, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists. He was outstanding in the second half, scoring seven points on 3-for-3 shooting while bringing down three rebounds and dishing three assists. Even with that stellar game, Dailey was OSU’s third-leading scorer, as Quion Williams and Small each had 21 points.

Up Next

Oklahoma State stays at home and hosts UCF at 7 p.m. Wednesday.