Baylor Blows Past Southern with Second-Half Fireworks in 111-67 Win
WACO, Texas - Baylor men’s basketball didn’t just win on Sunday - they put on a show. Fueled by a second-half eruption, the Bears ran away from Southern with a commanding 111-67 victory, lighting up the Ferrell Center and sending fans into the holiday break with plenty to cheer about.
The Bears (9-2) were already in control by halftime, but the second half was something else entirely. Baylor shot a scorching 71% from the field over the final 20 minutes, knocking down 24 of 34 shots and going 12-of-17 from deep. That’s 71 second-half points - the kind of offensive explosion that turns a solid win into a statement.
In total, Baylor hit 17 threes - their highest mark since a 2021 matchup with Kansas State. The ball movement was crisp, the spacing was textbook, and the shot-making?
Just plain elite. And while the offense was humming, the Bears stayed sharp on the other end too, forcing nine turnovers while committing a season-low four themselves.
Yessoufou Shines Bright
Freshman standout Tounde Yessoufou continues to look like the real deal. He poured in a career-high 28 points on 8-of-14 shooting, and he was nearly automatic from the line, going 9-for-10. Add in eight rebounds and six assists, and you’re looking at one of the most complete performances of the young season - not just for Baylor, but across college hoops.
Cameron Carr wasn’t far behind. The sophomore guard dropped 22 points, snagged six boards, and dished out six assists of his own. Carr has now hit double figures in 10 of Baylor’s 11 games this season, and he’s becoming the kind of steady, dynamic presence every top-tier team needs in the backcourt.
Three-Point Barrage and Balanced Attack
Dan Skillings Jr. was perfect from distance, hitting all four of his three-point attempts en route to 17 points and five assists. Obi Agbim added 12 points, matching his season-high with four triples. Isaac Williams IV chipped in with 11 - all in the second half - as the Bears’ depth once again proved to be a major asset.
Caden Powell, the Waco native, owned the glass with 15 rebounds. It’s his second straight game with 15 or more boards, and his physicality inside continues to be a quiet but crucial part of Baylor’s success.
And then there were the late-game fireworks. With the game well in hand, Will Kuykendall and Drew Perry checked in and made the most of their minutes. Kuykendall drilled back-to-back threes - his first of the season - and Perry added one of his own, capping off a season-high night from beyond the arc and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
How It Unfolded
Carr opened the game with a dunk, but Southern answered with a 7-0 run to briefly take control. That didn’t last long. A pair of threes from Carr helped Baylor settle in, and by the midway point of the first half, Carr and Yessoufou had already combined for 22 of Baylor’s 28 points.
Both teams hit a cold stretch late in the first half, but Michael Rataj broke the drought with a layup, and Agbim followed with a timely three to push Baylor’s lead to nine at the break, 40-31.
Then came the avalanche.
Agbim opened the second half with another three, and an alley-oop from Skillings Jr. to Carr set the tone for what became a 14-2 run. Baylor went 5-for-5 over a three-minute stretch, ballooning the lead to 28 and never looking back.
Carr notched a career-high four assists in the process, and Baylor finished with a season-best 28 assists as a team - a testament to the unselfishness and rhythm this group is starting to find.
Five in Double Figures, All Hands on Deck
This was the eighth time this season that five Bears reached double digits in scoring. Every player who suited up got on the board, a reflection of both the team’s depth and the coaching staff’s ability to keep the whole roster engaged.
Carr’s 22-point night marked his seventh 20-point game of the season, while Yessoufou’s 28 was his fourth such outing. These two are quickly becoming one of the more dangerous one-two punches in the Big 12.
Up Next
After a well-earned Christmas break, Baylor will return to action on Dec. 29 to host Arlington Baptist in their final non-conference game. If Sunday’s performance is any indication, the Bears are hitting their stride at just the right time.