Baylor Blasts Colorado, Finds Its Groove in Conference Play
WACO, Texas - Baylor came out swinging on Wednesday night and never looked back, delivering its most complete performance of the conference season in an 86-67 statement win over Colorado. The Bears, now riding their first win streak in Big 12 play, looked like a team that finally found its rhythm - and maybe a little payback, too.
This one was personal. After last year's close call against the Buffaloes, Baylor flipped the script with a defensive showcase that suffocated Colorado right from the jump.
The Bears held the Buffs to just eight made field goals and forced nine turnovers in the first half alone - limiting them to 21 points, the fewest by any Power Four opponent this season. That defensive intensity set the tone, and the offense followed suit with a 22-7 run that blew the game wide open before halftime.
By the break, Baylor had built a 45-21 lead - its largest halftime margin against a high-major opponent this season - and from there, the Bears never let Colorado back in it.
The Trio at the Heart of the Storm
For the second straight game, Baylor’s offensive engine was powered by its rising trio: Obi Agbim and Cameron Carr each poured in 19 points, while Tounde Yessoufou led the way with 27 - just one shy of his career high. Together, they accounted for 65 of Baylor’s 86 points, shooting a combined 55% from the field. That kind of efficiency, paired with the defensive lockdown, is the blueprint Baylor’s been searching for all season.
Yessoufou was everywhere - hitting from deep, attacking the paint, and sparking momentum-shifting plays. Carr was steady and explosive, especially late in the first half when he rattled off eight straight points to help bury Colorado. Agbim, meanwhile, wasted no time getting going, scoring Baylor’s first five points and staying aggressive throughout.
Defense First, Then Let It Fly
The Bears’ defense dictated everything. After giving up an early layup to open the game, Baylor clamped down, holding Colorado to just one bucket over an extended 4.5-minute stretch. During that time, Yessoufou and Caden Powell helped build a 13-4 lead, and the Bears never trailed again.
Baylor turned defense into offense all night, scoring 15 points off turnovers and adding 13 second-chance points. Every hustle play seemed to go their way - loose balls, rebounds, deflections. It wasn’t just effort; it was execution.
Carr and Agbim’s back-to-back threes midway through the first half sent Foster Pavilion into a frenzy, and Carr followed with a solo scoring burst to close the half. When Isaac Williams IV drove strong to the rim for a buzzer-beating layup, the Bears headed into the locker room with all the momentum and a 24-point cushion.
Weathering the Second-Half Push
Colorado came out of halftime with a bit more fire, knocking down a pair of threes to try and claw back into it. But Baylor didn’t flinch.
Carr and Agbim answered quickly, keeping the Buffs at arm’s length. Even as both teams started trading buckets, the Bears stayed composed and efficient.
Then came the knockout blow - a 9-0 Baylor run that spanned four minutes and included six straight defensive stops. James Nnaji capped it with a powerful dunk, and from there, the Bears were cruising.
Even when the offense hit a brief dry spell late - going nearly three minutes without a field goal - they kept the scoreboard moving at the line. Carr and Michael Rataj reignited the offense just in time to hold off a mini Colorado surge, and Baylor closed strong, hitting four of its last five shots to wrap things up in style.
What’s Next
With back-to-back wins under their belt and a renewed sense of confidence, Baylor heads to Ames this Saturday for a showdown with No. 7 Iowa State. It’s another major test in Big 12 play, but if the Bears bring the same energy and execution they showed against Colorado, they’ll be more than ready for the challenge.