Baylor cruises through annual Fort Hood game 105-82
It’s always a special night when Baylor travels to Fort Hood. Tonight was no exception as the Bears Tok down Randall 105-82, a great pallet cleanser at the end of the semester.
All about the bigs
There have been some close instances this season, but this is the first game of the season Baylor’s had two double-double performances. Jo Lual-Acuil had 19 points with 16 rebounds while Tristan Clark contributed 16 points and 11 boards.
Lual-Acuil’s on a tear since getting down on himself for an empty performance the first half against Sam Houston. His 16 rebounds is a career-best. That itself is something worthy of praise and in line with some of Rico Gathers finest hours but it was a fellow big that walks away with the highlight of the night.
Nuni Omot has cautiously been working on his three-point shot all season and finally let loose tonight. He walked away with 30 points (doubling his career-high) thanks to his rhythm from beyond the arc. Omot was a man possessed, shooting 6-of-8 from downtown, filling in for the role Manu Lecomte left while on rest. He played for virtually the entire game, resting just three minutes, giving another reason to appreciate his role.
Working on the three-point game
Omot was hot as they come. Near-perfect around the perimeter. But the rest of the team had a difficult time keeping pace.
Take away Omot’s shooting from outside, Baylor shot 7-of-19 from range. Tyson Jolly missed all four of his attempts (and has yet to make a shot from the floor) while King McClure was just 25 percent from distance.
Against a team that’s frankly, not near the level of competition Baylor will face beyond January, it becomes a bit concerning the team hasn’t found its groove here yet. The team’s 36 percent shooting without Omot is right in line with the rest of the season but that ranks just 158th in the nation.
With top shooting teams like Kansas and TCU on the horizon, it'll be a tough challenge if that percentage can't be raised as a whole. Otherwise, Omot will need to have a lot more games like this.
Finding work without Lecomte
It took three games, but freshman guard Tyson Jolly finally has his first points of his career after some early time off. He left Fort Hood with two points, shooting perfect from the line. So it’s clear, his role is not to work around the glass and he’s yet to prove he’s a reliable shot around the perimeter (missing all four shots).
But with Manu Lecomte taking a rest, Jolly did prove he’s another threat to spread the court with his passing.
He led the team with 10 assists, threading the needle eight times for shots near or at the rim. Jake Lindsey was tied for second with six assists, guiding a team-best four three-pointers.
After dismal ball movement the past few games, Baylor got into a groove with 31 assists, the team’s most dishes in two years. Even Omot was getting in on the action, adding six assists, making his 30 points all the more impressive. It’s also the first time in two years Baylor has had two games over 100 points in the same season let alone first nine games.