Waco, TX (Sports Network) – LaceDarius Dunn posted 24 points and Perry Jones III added 15 and nine rebounds, as ninth-ranked Baylor cruised past Bethune- Cookman, 83-39, at the Ferrell Center.
Quincy Acy chipped in with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while J’mison Morgan totaled 11 points for the Bears (7-0), who disposed of the overmatched Wildcats ahead of a Saturday showdown with Gonzaga in Dallas.
C.J. Reed tallied 13 points to pace Bethune-Cookman (5-6), which lost for the second time in three games.
The Wildcats hung around early, cutting the deficit to 9-8 on Alexander Starling’s layup just over 4 1/2 minutes into the contest. A three-pointer from Dunn pushed the edge to 26-14 approaching the 8 1/2-minute mark, and Baylor stayed in control with a 38-22 margin at the break.
Baylor was off to the races in the early stages of the second half, taking a 52-32 lead on Jones’ slam with just over 14 minutes to play. From there, Baylor outscored the Wildcats, 31-7, as the visitors made just two field goals in the final 14 1/2 minutes. By the time Reed drained a trey with just over eight minutes to play, Baylor had embarked on a 19-2 stretch to take complete control.
The Bears cruised to victory in the final eight-plus minutes.
Game Notes
Baylor made 53.8 percent of its shots and 22-of-29 from the charity stripe…A.J. Walton contributed 10 assists to just one turnover and four points for the Bears…Bethune-Cookman made only 31.3 percent of its shots and committed 13 turnovers…This was the first-ever meeting between the two schools.