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OU basketball stuns OSU to end Bedlam in OT on Javian McCollum's 3-pointer at buzzer
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- OU basketball stuns OSU to end Bedlam in OT on Javian McCollum's 3-pointer at buzzer
STILLWATER — OU defeated Oklahoma State 84-82 in overtime Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in the final regular-season Bedlam game as conference foes.
Sooners guard Javian McCollum knocked down a step-back buzzer-beater 3 to secure the win.
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McCollum missed a go-ahead layup with 16 seconds left in regulation before OU's Otega Oweh fouled Javon Small , who missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free-throw attempt. Jarius Hicklen had an open look with 0.6 seconds remaining but his shot clanked off the backboard, sending the game to overtime.
OU and OSU struggled from 3 , both shooting 29%.
Junior guard Javon Small and sophomore guard Quion Williams led the Cowboys with 21 points apiece. Freshman forward Eric Dailey Jr. added 20 points, a career-high, on 8 for 10 shooting with eight rebounds.
Senior guard Rivaldo Soares , who missed the Sooners ' loss to Kansas last Saturday due to an ankle injury, returned and scored 20 points. Sophomore Otega Oweh finished with 16 points while junior Jalon Moore dropped 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
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More: Best of Bedlam men's basketball in Big 12 era: Top OU, OSU players, games
Sooners figure out runs
Moser talked to his team all week about the runs it allowed against the Jayhawks.
OU was much better at sustaining runs and leading a few of its own on Saturday. The Sooners made three of their last three shots and held the Cowboys to an over two-minute scoring drought from 3:01 to 42 seconds left in regulation.
After trailing by eight at halftime, Moser's squad outscored Boynton's 42-34 in the second half on the heels of a full week off. The Sooners also defended well and didn't allow runs in overtime.
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OU appeared fresher than its been down the stretch all season.
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Rivaldo Soares stars in return
Despite his status being up in the air, Soares joined pregame warmups for the second consecutive week.
Although this time, Moser didn't force him out of his uniform. Soares picked up where he left off before the injury, knocking down 7 of his 9 shot attempts, including shooting 3 for 3 from 3.
Soares finished with OU's highest plus/minus with a plus-7. He also started the second half in place of starting guard Oweh.
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In his first play back, Soares hauled a perfect lob pass to Jalon Moore who slammed home the ferocious alley-oop.
More: Big 12 basketball power rankings: Is Houston's Jamal Shead the top player in conference?
Javon Small's world
Oklahoma State guard Javon Small (12) jumps to lay up the ball past Oklahoma guard Rivaldo Soares (5) in the second half during an NCAA basketball game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
As Javon Small goes, so do the Cowboys.
The star point guard put on a show in regulation. He scored 21 points, getting to the basket at will. He tied the game with 41.8 seconds left in regulation on a layup.
He also had a chance to win the game, but missed a free throw with 4.3 seconds left in the second half.
Still, Small carried a Cowboys team that has grown up in a lot of ways.
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More: How OU basketball aimed to 'get fresh' in week off leading into Bedlam vs. Oklahoma State
Eric Dailey Jr.'s bench role leading to big things
Early in the season, Dailey was a consistent starter. But he hasn't been in the first five since Jan. 16.
He's embraced the role.
Now, he's soaring.
The 6-foot-8 true freshman had his most impactful performance in a month, making key baskets and passes at will to keep the Cowboys in control.
He found a cutting Williams for a layup early in the second half. With 5:18 left, he found Williams cutting on the baseline again for a dunk. Then he found Williams again after an offensive rebound, dishing a no-look bounce pass for the layup and 66-62 lead.
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Earlier, Dailey hit a big 3. He played solid defense in the paint.
And this was mostly with fellow freshman star Brandon Garrison — mismatch for the Sooners — on the bench due to foul trouble.
In total, Dailey finished with the 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes.
More: Oklahoma State basketball misses own storybook ending in Bedlam overtime loss to Sooners
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU basketball stuns OSU on Javian McCollum's 3-pointer at buzzer in OT
