I felt this game was coming, had to be a game where we were just out of sync and nothing works while the other team play above average (their 3-pointers). Just very happy that we were able to work through it and survive. Now hopefully it is out of our system and we won't see it again.
Baylor Basketball
No. 2 Baylor survives nail-biter against Iowa State, 65-63
It was a battle of strengths on the offensive end between No. 2 Baylor (14-0) and Iowa State (9-4) at the Ferrell Center on Wednesday evening, but Baylor's length was just what the doctor ordered again.
Well, until the shortest man on the court, junior point Manu LecComte, hit the game-winning shot with less than 10 seconds remaining to keep the Bears perfect on the season.
After Baylor jumped out to a quick 11-3 lead in the first three minutes on the game by way of size and length in the post, Iowa State answered the Bears attempts to extend the lead by connecting on 8-of-14 three-point shots.
Baylor forwards Jo Lual-Acuil and Johnathan Motley combined for 17 points and nine rebounds in the first half. For the Cyclones it was Naz Mitrou-Long, Nick Weiler-Babb and Matt Thomas who connected 7-of-9 from deep to answer the Bears dominance in the paint.
The Bears finished the first half by shooting 53.8 percent from inside the arc while the Cyclones finished with a 53.3 percent from deep.
Baylor's narrow one-point lead at the half vanished and eventually turned into an Cyclone lead that lasted the majority of the half. The Bears reclaimed the lead once inside of 10 minutes, but Iowa State extended back out to six moments later.
From there it was Baylor's defense who did the dirty work to give the chance for the win to close things out. The Bears held the Cyclones to only two points over the final 5:33 of the game while scoring 10 of their own.
Lecomte's game-winning floater in the lane was two of his seven points on the night. The junior's performance was arguably his worst of the season. He finished the night 3-of-10 from the field and totaling only two assists to four turnovers.
However, Lecomte's performance was the epitome of the game for Baylor's back court. Junior Al Freeman and King McClure combined for an additional 11 points on 1-of-4 shooting from deep.
Motley's 13 points and 12 rebounds and Lual-Acuil's 15 points and eight rebounds highlighted Baylor's night offensively. Senior Ish Wainright chipped in only two points, but his eight assists and seven rebounds helped the Bears throughout.
Sophomore guard Jake Lindsey scored a season high 10 points in the victory.
Baylor returns to the Ferrell Center on Saturday evening to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-3) at 6 p.m.
Well, until the shortest man on the court, junior point Manu LecComte, hit the game-winning shot with less than 10 seconds remaining to keep the Bears perfect on the season.
After Baylor jumped out to a quick 11-3 lead in the first three minutes on the game by way of size and length in the post, Iowa State answered the Bears attempts to extend the lead by connecting on 8-of-14 three-point shots.
Baylor forwards Jo Lual-Acuil and Johnathan Motley combined for 17 points and nine rebounds in the first half. For the Cyclones it was Naz Mitrou-Long, Nick Weiler-Babb and Matt Thomas who connected 7-of-9 from deep to answer the Bears dominance in the paint.
The Bears finished the first half by shooting 53.8 percent from inside the arc while the Cyclones finished with a 53.3 percent from deep.
Baylor's narrow one-point lead at the half vanished and eventually turned into an Cyclone lead that lasted the majority of the half. The Bears reclaimed the lead once inside of 10 minutes, but Iowa State extended back out to six moments later.
From there it was Baylor's defense who did the dirty work to give the chance for the win to close things out. The Bears held the Cyclones to only two points over the final 5:33 of the game while scoring 10 of their own.
Lecomte's game-winning floater in the lane was two of his seven points on the night. The junior's performance was arguably his worst of the season. He finished the night 3-of-10 from the field and totaling only two assists to four turnovers.
However, Lecomte's performance was the epitome of the game for Baylor's back court. Junior Al Freeman and King McClure combined for an additional 11 points on 1-of-4 shooting from deep.
Motley's 13 points and 12 rebounds and Lual-Acuil's 15 points and eight rebounds highlighted Baylor's night offensively. Senior Ish Wainright chipped in only two points, but his eight assists and seven rebounds helped the Bears throughout.
Sophomore guard Jake Lindsey scored a season high 10 points in the victory.
Baylor returns to the Ferrell Center on Saturday evening to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-3) at 6 p.m.
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