Big 12 Basketball power pankings: Texas Tech rises as Baylor looks to run the table

Previous games: 52-57 loss to Texas Tech, 79-72 win over Iowa State

Next games: Tuesday vs. Baylor, Saturday at. West Virginia

The battle for second place continues to be a three-man race. Over the span of the week, Oklahoma slipped up with a close loss in Lubbock to Texas Tech.

Both defenses took shape, as each team shot just 33 percent from the field, and no player scored above 15 points for their team. Elite defensive efforts from Umoja Gibson helped the Sooners, as he finished with a fantastic stat line. Gibson alongside De’Vion Harmon has played impressively through conference play.

Gibson finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four steals in the contest. Harmon did not have his most efficient game, shooting four of 15 from the field and missing all six of his three-point attempts.

It was an ugly performance, but it was a win nonetheless, against Iowa State on Saturday. What would’ve been a resume shifting loss, was avoided by Oklahoma as they were lead by Gibson once again in scoring.

Brady Manek finally returned to the lineup and gave the Sooners a spark when they needed it the most.

Manek’s nine points and 15 rebounds were crucial, as well as, this play to finish the game. Oklahoma is playing well at the right time. However,  the conference slate is still rough. Oklahoma has road games against West Virginia and Oklahoma State while having home games against Baylor and Texas.