FORT WORTH, Texas — Marcus Smart got the loudest pregame cheers among Oklahoma State players facing TCU in something of a high school reunion.
Le’Bryan Nash made sure all the family and friends went home happy.
Nash scored a career-high 28 points, Smart had his typically strong all-around game not far from the school where he won two state championships, and No. 15 Oklahoma State beat offensively challenged TCU 64-47 on Wednesday night.
Nash had the first two baskets in an 18-1 run that bridged the first and second halves and put the Cowboys (21-6, 11-4 Big 12) in control for good.
Smart, a freshman who won back-to-back state titles at Flower Mound Marcus High School, had nine points, five assists and three steals — all categories in which he is among the Big 12 leaders.
If Nash, who played high school ball a little farther away in Dallas, noticed the louder ovation for his new teammate, he sure didn’t mind.
“Marcus is a fan favorite,” said Nash, who was 12 of 16 from the field and tied Michael Cobbins for the team lead with six rebounds. “He invited a lot of people, and I’m glad they came. They’re Marcus Smart fans, but they’re also OSU fans. When he makes great plays, good things happen.”
Kyan Anderson led the Horned Frogs with 15 points. Reserve Devonta Abron had 12 points and nine rebounds.
TCU (10-18, 1-14), one of the lowest-scoring teams in the country, missed 12 straight shots while going more than 10 minutes without a field goal and ended up shooting 27 percent.
Baylor 65, West Virginia 62: Three Baylor Bears scored double figures Wednesday as they edged West Virginia 65-62 to snap a three-game losing string and keep hopes alive of an at-large NCAA tournament bid.
The Bears (17-11, 8-7 Big 12) had lost three in a row and six of their past eight. On top of that, coming in, they led West Virginia (13-15, 6-9) by just one game for sixth place in the league.
Baylor was led by Isaiah Austin’s 21 points, Pierre Jackson added 15 and A.J. Walton 10 before fouling out.
Eron Harris scored a career-high 25 points for the Mountaineers. Kevin Noreen had 10.
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