Five key points: Lache Seastrunk ices the game with a 76-yard run while cramping, Oklahoma State loses back-to-back games for first time since 2009

Here are five key points to take away from Baylor’s 41-34 win over the No. 23 Oklahoma State Cowboys. It was Baylor’s first win against Oklahoma State since 2005 and it marks the first time that the Cowboys have lost back-to-back games since 2009.

To start: Jersey confirmation
While at Floyd Casey Stadium, I can confirm that the jerseys that Baylor played in this afternoon were indeed black, not green.

Lache Seastrunk ices the game…again
For the second time this season against a ranked opponent, Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk had a lengthy break away run to ice the game for the Bears. Two weeks ago, Seastrunk had a 80-yard scamper to win the game over the No. 1 Kansas State Wildcats. He had a similar run this week, only this time, he outran the Cowboys’ secondary while appearing to be injured.

Seastrunk took the ball from quarterback Nick Florence and ran straight up the middle while blowing past all the defenders. Once he crossed midfield and got to the Oklahoma State 40-yard line, he seemed to pull up a little bit while reaching for his leg. A hobbled Seastrunk was still able to finish the play and score to put Baylor up by two scores.

Head coach Art Briles said that he thought Seastrunk had a cramp and finishing the run ‘showed his willingness to fight to win.’

He left the field with Floyd Casey Stadium chanting his name.

While he has gotten at least one carry in every game this season, Seastrunk began to be the featured back in the eighth week of the season against Kansas. On the year, he has 99 carries for 696 yards (good for second on the Baylor team).

Both teams left points on the field
There were a lot of points scored between the two teams, but there could have been even more if the teams hadn’t attempted a combined six field goals. Oklahoma State had trouble converting on third down, which was somewhat of a surprise given Baylor’s track record of giving up nearly 60 percent of its third down attempts to its opponents this season. Oklahoma State just managed to convert seven of 15 third down attempts.

On the other hand, BU had trouble scoring once it got deep into the Cowboys’ territory, mainly inside the 25-yard line. Three times in the game the Bears got inside OSU’s 25 yard line and didn’t score. Kicker Aaron Jones had a field goal blocked at the end of the first half, missed one from 41-yards out and the offense was stood up on a 4 & 1 rush attempt from Florence.

Briles said the missed opportunities came from ‘self-inflicted wounds’ such as penalties or miscommunications.

It was a shootout like most predicted, but there could have been more fireworks.

Two scores in seven seconds
After Oklahoma State opened the game with a field goal, Baylor responded on the ensuing drive with a field goal of their own. On the very first play of the Cowboys’ next drive, Eddie Lackey intercepted Clint Chelf’s pass and returned it for a touchdown. That gives Lackey two straight weeks with an interception touchdown.

The two scores for Baylor came within seven seconds of one another. OSU didn’t hold the lead or have a tie with BU for the remainder of the game.

Terrance Williams didn’t have a second half reception
Heading into the game, Baylor’s Terrance Williams only needed 86 receiving yards to tie for 10th in the NCAA in terms of receiving yards in a year. At the half, he had six catches for 71 yards. However the Oklahoma State defense held Williams without a reception for the entire second half – something that’s been very difficult to do for opposing defenses. Likewise, Florence didn’t have a prolific second half throwing the ball managing only 70 yards himself.

But the Baylor offense didn’t need gaudy numbers from the two since the defense and running game were both performing relatively well. The top rushing team in the Big 12 managed 320 yards rushing on 55 attempts and the defense got its two turnovers that it usually needs to win games. Florence even had a career-high 18 rushing attemtps for 79 yards.

OSU defense worn out
Last time these two teams met, Baylor ran a season-high 105 offensive plays in a loss. Just last week, the Oklahoma State defense was on the field for 103 plays in a last-second overtime loss to Oklahoma. Nearing the end of the game, especially on Seastrunk’s 76-yard run when he pulled up, the Cowboys’ defense looked gassed.