Baylor’s Late Rally Falls Short Against No. 22 BYU in High-Scoring Thriller
WACO, Texas - Baylor went toe-to-toe with No. 22 BYU for 40 minutes in a game that had all the makings of a Big 12 classic. But when the dust settled Tuesday night, the Bears came up just short, falling 99-94 in a game that was equal parts electric and frustrating for the home crowd.
Tied at halftime, Baylor looked ready to trade blows with a ranked opponent. But a sluggish start to the second half gave BYU just enough daylight to take control - and despite a furious late push, the Bears couldn’t quite close the gap.
Let’s start with the bright spot: Tounde Yessoufou. The freshman didn’t just show up - he exploded.
Dropping a career-high 37 points while playing all 40 minutes, Yessoufou etched his name into Baylor history. It was the most points ever scored by a Bear against a ranked opponent, the highest total by any Baylor player since Makai Mason’s 40-point outing in 2019, and the most by a BU freshman since LaceDarius Dunn dropped 38 back in 2008.
That’s elite company, and Yessoufou looked every bit the part.
He wasn’t alone, either. Caden Powell chipped in with his best Big 12 scoring night of the season, finishing with 13.
And Cameron Carr continued his hot streak, pouring in 24 points for his second straight 20-point performance. The Bears had firepower - they just couldn’t quite put it all together when it mattered most.
The game featured nine lead changes and five ties, but the turning point came midway through the second half. That’s when BYU hit the gas, stringing together a run that ballooned their lead to 17. Baylor clawed back and kept things interesting down the stretch, but the Cougars held their nerve at the free throw line and never let the Bears all the way back in.
BYU leaned heavily on the duo of AJ Dybantsa and Robert Wright III, who matched Yessoufou’s brilliance with a combined 66 points of their own - and like Yessoufou, both played the full 40 minutes. But perhaps the most telling stat of the night?
BYU turned Baylor’s mistakes into 24 points off turnovers. In a game decided by five, that’s the kind of margin that stings.
This one will feel like a missed opportunity for Baylor. They showed resilience, they showed talent, and they showed flashes of the team they can be. But in a loaded Big 12, moral victories don’t move the standings - and the Bears now sit at 13-11 overall and 3-9 in conference play.
What’s Next: Baylor steps out of Big 12 play for a non-conference matchup against No. 24 Louisville at Dickies Arena on Saturday, Feb.
- Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
CT - and it’s another chance for this team to prove they can hang with the nation’s best.