Baylor Falls to Cincinnati Despite Strong Interior Play, Drops Fourth Straight
CINCINNATI - Baylor men’s basketball came into Fifth Third Arena looking to snap a three-game skid and kick off its road swing with a statement. Instead, the Bears ran into a Cincinnati squad that found just enough offensive rhythm - and a standout performance from Baba Miller - to hand Baylor a 67-57 loss.
It wasn’t for lack of effort on the boards. Baylor actually won the rebounding battle on both ends of the floor, but couldn’t capitalize where it mattered most - the scoreboard. The Bears shot just 35% from the field and struggled to find consistency offensively, despite outscoring the Bearcats 34-24 in the paint.
Freshman Tounde Yessoufou continued to show flashes of his high ceiling, leading Baylor with 16 points and seven rebounds. Obi Agbim added 14 points, including four of the Bears’ six made threes, while Dan Skillings Jr. - making a return to his old stomping grounds - chipped in 10 points, seven boards, and a season-high two steals.
But it was Cincinnati’s Baba Miller who stole the show. The 6-foot-11 forward was a force on both ends, finishing with 18 points and a dominant 17 rebounds. His presence in the paint helped neutralize Baylor’s interior scoring edge and gave the Bearcats the physical boost they needed to control the tempo.
Jizzle James, who had been quiet in recent conference play, picked the perfect time to get hot. He knocked down five threes en route to 17 points, giving Cincinnati a much-needed perimeter spark and pushing them to their third Big 12 win of the season.
A Game of Runs - And Missed Opportunities
The night started slow for both teams, with early offensive droughts setting the tone. Baylor center Caden Powell got the Bears on the board first, but Cincinnati responded with an 8-0 run, holding Baylor scoreless for nearly four minutes to build a 15-5 lead.
Baylor punched back with a 10-0 burst of its own, sparked by buckets from Isaac Williams IV and Yessoufou. But the Bearcats countered quickly, stringing together a 7-0 run to re-establish a seven-point cushion.
Agbim helped keep Baylor within striking distance heading into halftime, knocking down three triples to cut the deficit to 35-28. Still, the Bears never quite found their rhythm - and Cincinnati made sure they didn’t.
Second Half Push Falls Short
Skillings opened the second half with a smooth jumper, but Cincinnati answered with a 7-0 run to stretch the lead to 12 - their largest of the night. Baylor tried to chip away, with Agbim and Yessoufou both reaching double figures midway through the second half. But every time the Bears looked poised to make a run, the Bearcats had an answer.
A flagrant foul on Skillings - a tough moment against his former team - led to a five-point swing that pushed Cincinnati’s lead to 63-46. That sequence felt like the backbreaker.
To their credit, Baylor’s defense clamped down late, holding Cincinnati without a made field goal for more than six minutes. Skillings capped his return with a steal and emphatic slam, becoming the third Bear in double figures. But the offensive struggles were too much to overcome, and the late defensive stand came too late.
What’s Next
With the loss, Baylor drops to 11-9 overall and 1-7 in Big 12 play. The Bears have now lost four straight and head into Saturday’s matchup against West Virginia in Morgantown looking to regain their footing.
There were positives to build on - rebounding effort, interior scoring, and flashes from young players like Yessoufou. But the Bears will need more consistent shot-making and fewer empty possessions if they want to turn the tide in conference play.
Tip-off against the Mountaineers is set for 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2.