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Despite injury to star, No. 9 Baylor turns huge first-half run into win over No. 8 Texas
Texas led for most of the first half, and by as much as 14 points, until a Flo Thamba foul shot tied the ballgame at 23-23 with 4:26 left. The free throws extended Baylor's run to 12-0, and they took the lead for good following a jumper by Jalen Bridges with 3:03 in the half. Bridges capped off the huge run by the Bears with a slam dunk at the 1:12 mark. Dylan Disu scored the Longhorns' final four points of the first half to cut the Baylor lead to 29-27 at halftime. Texas tied the game twice early in the second half but could never regain the lead.
WACO, Texas (KXAN) — An 18-0 first-half run by No. 9 Baylor fueled the Bears to upend No. 8 Texas 81-72 in Big 12 Conference men's basketball action Saturday at the Ferrell Center.
Texas led for most of the first half, and by as much as 14 points, until a Flo Thamba foul shot tied the ballgame at 23-23 with 4:26 left. The free throws extended Baylor's run to 12-0, and they took the lead for good following a jumper by Jalen Bridges with 3:03 in the half. Bridges capped off the huge run by the Bears with a slam dunk at the 1:12 mark. Dylan Disu scored the Longhorns' final four points of the first half to cut the Baylor lead to 29-27 at halftime. Texas tied the game twice early in the second half but could never regain the lead.
Texas made two more field goals than Baylor, but the Bears connected on 22 foul shots and the Longhorns only shot 12 and made eight. Disu and Jabari Rice both fouled out for the Longhorns, and Baylor crushed Texas on the boards with 37 rebounds to the Longhorns' 25.
Disu scored a game-high 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting including three 3-pointers. Tyrese Hunter chipped in 13 points while Rice and Timmy Allen each scored 12, and Allen also grabbed nine rebounds. Marcus Carr had a tough night shooting, going 3-for-10, and scored 11 points with six assists and five rebounds.
Texas guard Sir'Jabari Rice (10) is fouled as he attempts to score by Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Texas guard Marcus Carr (5) shoots over Baylor guard Langston Love (13) and Baylor guard LJ Cryer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) attempts a shot over Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor guard Keyonte George (1) reacts after apparent ankle injury against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) attempts to score against Baylor forward Jalen Bridges (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) has his shot blocked by Baylor forward Jalen Bridges during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor guard Adam Flagler (10) shoots over Texas guard Tyrese Hunter (4) and Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor forward Josh Ojianwuna (15) grabs the pass as Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) attempts to steal the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor guard Adam Flagler (10) is fouled by Texas guard Sir'Jabari Rice (10) as he attempts to score during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor guard Dale Bonner (3) is fouled by Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) as he attempts to score during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor guard Dale Bonner (3) scores past Texas forward Brock Cunningham (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor forward Flo Thamba (0) is fouled by Texas forward Brock Cunningham (30) as he attempts to score during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Texas acting head coach Rodney Terry reacts to a call from the referee during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) is called for a charging against Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor head coach Scott Drew calls in a play to his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Baylor guard Dale Bonner (3)scores over Texas guard Marcus Carr (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Texas forward Christian Bishop (32) scores over Baylor forward Jalen Bridges (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson) 
Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) scores over Baylor forward Flo Thamba (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
The Longhorns scored on 31 of 71 possessions and the Bears scored on 36 of 74 possessions.
Bridges led Baylor with 17 points and eight rebounds while Adam Flagler pitched in 14 points. Dale Bonner had 13 points off the bench and Thamba notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Baylor star guard Keyonte George played just six minutes after suffering an injury in the first half.
The loss drops the Longhorns (22-7, 11-5 Big 12) out of a first-place tie with Kansas in the Big 12 standings with two conference games left. However, as of 4:15 p.m. Saturday, West Virginia and Kansas were tied at 40-40 in Lawrence. If the Jayhawks win, they'll hang on to the top spot in the conference and a loss would keep the teams tied. Texas takes on TCU at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Fort Worth.