RALEIGH, N.C. — The No. 9-seed Baylor Men’s Basketball team (20-15, 10-10 Big 12) could not overcome early foul trouble and a hot shooting night from the No. 1-seed Duke Blue Devils (33-3, 19-1 ACC), falling by a score of 89-66 in the NCAA Tournament second-round matchup.
VJ Edgecombe led the Bears with 16 points in what was likely the Bahamian’s last collegiate game.
Norchad Omier battled for 15 points and nine rebounds while struggling with foul trouble against the taller and deeper Blue Devils.
Langston Love and Robert Wright both reached double-figures with 11 points, but this was not enough to overcome Baylor’s defensive struggles. Love was a team-worst -27 in plus-minus as he played the most minutes on the team with 35.
Duke took advantage of Omer’s three first-half fouls to find advantageous matchups all over the court. The Blue Devils finished the first half on a 24-6 tear, taking a 24-23 Baylor lead and making it 47-30 for Duke at the half.
On the night, Duke shot 64% from the field and 55% from three. Baylor could only muster 37% from the field and 32% from three.
The Bears dominated the offensive boards 18-3, but the 12-2 advantage in second chance points did not mean much considering Duke didn’t need many second chances.
The Blue Devils also killed the Bears in transition scoring 17 fast break points. Baylor could not control the pace of the game, managing to earn just 10 free throws in the game. Duke was awarded 19 free throws in the first half alone.
All in all, Scott Drew’s Bears were unable to advance to the program’s 6th Sweet Sixteen. Baylor fell to a No. 1-seed for the first time since 2019 when those Bears — who also had a record of 20-14 — ran into the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Coincidentally, that is the last time Baylor won 20 or fewer games in a season.
This 23-point loss also marks the worst NCAA Tournament loss in program history, topping the 20-point, 2017 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Now Scott Drew will work to reshuffle and reload his roster for the 2025-26 season starting tomorrow with the NCAA Transfer Portal opening.