Omier, Edgecombe Lead Bears Past Utes in Salt Lake, 76-61

SALT LAKE CITY — The Baylor Bears (13-6-, 5-3 Big 12) completed the season sweep over the Utah Utes (11-8, 3-5 Big 12) with a 76-61 win at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday afternoon. 

VJ Edgecombe led the Baylor offense in the first half on his way to 21 points while Norchad Omier dominated the second half finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds. 

Baylor started the game slowly yet again falling down 11-4 before launching into a 22-3 run to take control of the game.

The Bears’ lead grew as large as 16 points before halftime thanks in particular to Edgecombe going 3-for-3 from deep in the period.

However, the Utes made a push right before the break to make it a 38-31 game going into the locker room. It was a 14-4 run that also saw the shorthanded Bears pick up key fouls that would make the second half precarious.

By the first media timeout of the second half, the Utes were down by just six points, 43-37 with Omier and Jason Asemota on their third foul each. 

As the half wore on, the Baylor lead hovered around the upper single digits while Asemota picked up his fourth foul, Jalen Celestine was whistled for his fourth and Joshua Ojianwuna committed both his third and fourth infractions.

Celestine also appeared to tweak his previously injured ankle when he was called for his fourth foul.

The Green and Gold stabilized affairs with effective defense allowing just four field goals by the Utes in the last four minutes. Edgecombe also managed two key blocks on defense without fouling.

With an Omier dagger three and six straight made free throws from Robert Wright, the Bears iced the game. Wright ended 8-for-8 from the charity stripe and collected 14 points overall to join Omier and Edgecombe in double-figures. 

The Bears have now won two in a row and earned a second Big 12 road win. Baylor will go for a third on Tuesday night in Provo as the team goes head-to-head with the BYU Cougars. Tip-off for that game is set at 8:00 p.m. with the broadcast available on ESPN 2.