Second half brilliance pushes Baylor past Auburn, 84-72

WACO, Texas — The No. 2 Baylor men’s basketball team (16-0, 8-0) took care of business against Auburn (10-7, 4-5) with a statement victory over Bruce Pearl’s team 84-72. 

Absolute madness. Just when you think the Baylor faithful can’t outdo themselves with a home atmosphere, this happens. Just when you think the Bears will slip up in a trap game, also this happens. 

First off, I’m naming my firstborn child, no matter its gender, Matthew Mayer. My second child shall be Adam Flagler. Should there be a third, it will be known as Jared Butler. Flagler finished with 19 to go along with Butler’s 16, but it was Mayer’s 13 that jolted the team to a new level late. 

Recapping first-half action, it looked like neither team wanted to score. Baylor shot an uncharacteristic 38% from the field, but Auburn, not to be outdone, went for a measly 34%. Moreover, the Bears shot just 4-13 from deep with the Tigers going 3-16. While the Green and Gold was outrebounded in the first 20, they did force 10 turnovers compared to coughing up four. 

From a gameplay standpoint, Mayer nailed a three and Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchoua notched an emphatic and one to push the score to 29-22 and make the Ferrell Center go absolutely bonkers. That stretch was Bears largest lead of the half as Auburn pulled it to 35-30 at the break. 

As far as individual performances went early on, Butler and Flagler both had nine in the opening half to lead the game, but Butler only shot 3-10. Davion Mitchell added five points, three boards and three assists against his former team, gluing the Bears in the first half. 

And then the second half started. 

Baylor was a hoard of 40-somethings and Auburn was a Best Buy at open on black Friday. Folks, it was time, and not just any time — it was Matthew Mayer time. And Davion Mitchell time, and Jared Butler time, and Mark Vital time and hit the over time. 

Hemingway himself could not put into words what the atmosphere was like in the Ferrell Center once the Bears ripped the game wide open. There’s such a thing as 10,000 people in an arena getting hype loud, but this was 2,500 people getting heart loud — and it was deafening. Baylor opened up a 56-40 lead, and there was no looking back. 

Mayer took over in the second half with 10 points, four rebounds and an unrealistic dunk. Teague contributed with another 11. In the final 20 alone, Baylor made seven from deep, outrebounded Auburn 24-16, outscored the Tigers in bench points 23-4 and led 49-42 to complete the 84-72 win. 

Bruce Pearl got a technical. Macio Teague scored 15. Flo Thamba had 11 boards. The over hit. The crowd chanted S-E-C as the clock expired. 

This. Was. Euphoria.