Texas Southern Tigers vs Baylor Bears Box Score on Dec 14, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 14, 2017

WACO, Texas -- Forward Nuni Omot led the way in an efficient offensive performance as No. 21 Baylor cruised past Texas Southern 99-68 on Thursday night at the Ferrell Center.

Omot opened the game with an alley-oop dunk and went on to make 10 of 12 field goals for 22 points. Baylor shot 66 percent from the field and pulled away from the Tigers in the second half.

Guard Manu Lecomte joined Omot with 22 points for the Bears (8-2). Lecomte also had six assists and forward Jo Lual-Acuil added 18 points.

Guard Demontrae Jefferson scored 24 points to lead Texas Southern (0-10). Center Trayvon Reed added 12 and guard Donte' Clark finished with 10.

Baylor buried Texas Southern with a 17-0 run in the second half as the Tigers went more than five minutes without scoring.

Omot, guard King McClure and Lecomte each nailed 3-pointers during the spurt and Lual-Acuil capped it with a jumper that put Baylor ahead 62-37 with 14:15 left.

Reed hit a pair of free throws to break the scoring drought for the Tigers. But Texas Southern couldn't cool off the Bears' offense.

Baylor shot 80 percent from the field, including 3 of 3 from beyond the arc in the first eight minutes after halftime.

Texas Southern has played all 10 of its games on the road this season and Thursday night's contest at Baylor was the Tigers' first game in their home state.

Baylor gained separation in the first half using an 8-0 run that began when Lecomte completed a four-point play at the 7:00 mark.

Omot followed with a steal and a dunk just seven seconds after Lecomte's free throw. Forward Tristan Clark added a tip-in to give Baylor a 32-22 lead with 5:57 left before the break.

Texas Southern fought back as guard Clark and Jefferson each hit 3-pointers to cut the Bears' lead to 36-30.

But Baylor scored the last five points of the first half as McClure hit a 3-pointer and Lecomte made a fade-away jumper for a 43-32 edge at the break.

NOTES: Baylor entered the game with a 10-0 all-time record against Texas Southern. The Bears, who were playing the Tigers for the fourth straight season, defeated Texas Southern 89-63 last season. ... The Tigers were playing their third ranked opponent after facing No. 18 Gonzaga and No. 3 Kansas earlier in the campaign. Texas Southern has played two Big 12 opponents, two Pac 12 opponents and two ACC opponents. ... Baylor was playing its second of three non-conference games against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents this season. The Bears defeated Alcorn State 78-61 on Nov. 17 and will play Southern on Dec. 20.