WACO, Texas — The Baylor Men’s Basketball team (7-2) rode a strong second half and a balanced offensive showing to a win over the visiting Norfolk State Spartans (4-7) by a score of 97-67 on Wednesday.
The Bears had six players in double figures, with redshirt sophomore wing Cameron Carr leading the way with 19 points. Fifth-year guard Obi Agbim added 18 points, four rebounds and five assists, while senior center Caden Powell scored 16 while grabbing seven boards.
“We knew that we had to play well and [this was] probably our most complete game, as far as defensively, holding them to 38%,” said Baylor head coach Scott Drew after the game, “23 assists was outstanding. We only had eight turnovers until the very end there. So much better there sharing the ball. Most blocks since 2019, free throw shooting at 81%, so a lot of good things.”
The blocks accounted for 10 of the many highlight plays that Baylor produced, and Carr registered four blocks on his own.
Despite Scott’s positive demeanor, the game was not easy for the green and gold in the first half. The Spartans bounced back from an early eight-point deficit to be within four points just 2:33 before halftime.
That is when Baylor went on a 14-2 kill shot run right before the half, punctuated by an Isaac Williams triple just before the halftime horn.
The Baylor defense kept the pressure up all through the second half, helping the Bears build ahead as large as 39 points.
“I thought the momentum we finished the half with was huge,” said Coach Drew, “That got us some separation. And then it was great to start well in the second half, and then from there, just stay focused.”
Looking at the shooting splits, Norfolk State shot 45% in the first half before a poor 31% second-half split dropped the team’s overall percentage to 38 for the game.
Back at the offensive end, star freshman Tounde Yessoufou was the Bears’ third leading scorer with 17 points, while Dan Skillings and Michael Rataj rounded out the six Bears in double-figures with 11 points each.
Baylor now heads into finals week before a Friday, December 19th, matchup with Alcorn State in the friendly confines of Foster Pavilion.
