OU 65, Baylor 61

Sunday, January 16th 2005, 10:16 am

By: News On 6

WACO, Texas (AP) _ Drew Lavender scored a season-high 20 points, including a 3-pointer and two free throws in the final 45 seconds, to lead Number 25 Oklahoma to a 65-to-61 victory over Baylor.

The surging Sooners (13-2, 2-0 Big 12) won their seventh straight game overall, and 21st in a row against Baylor. But this game certainly wasn't as easy as the ones in the past.

The Sooners haven't lost to Baylor since December 1977. Coach Kelvin Sampson is 19-0 against the Bears and the first 18 were by an average margin of 18 points.

Oklahoma had as much as a 12-point lead early in the second half, but Baylor (8-5, 0-2) was within 57-56 after Tommy Swanson hit two free throws with 2:39 left.

The Bears, with Swanson as the only returning scholarship player from last season when Baylor won eight games, just couldn't get over the final hump. They cut the lead to one two more times, but never tied or went ahead.

Aaron Bruce, a freshman, had 21 points and Swanson added 13 before fouling out with 2:14 left.