Baylor didn’t just beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Bears flattened them, rolling to a 56-point win to move to 2-0 on the season.
The part that stood out most was how complete the performance was. Baylor controlled the game from the start, and the defensive effort was a big reason why. With a result that lopsided, there weren’t many real duds to sort through.
Isaac Williams IV was the headliner. He posted a career-high 26 points, knocking down 7 of 13 shots from the field and 11 of 12 at the free-throw line. He also filled up the stat sheet with four rebounds, six assists and five steals.
After a quieter outing in the opener, Williams reminded everyone why he’s one of Baylor’s most important players. He hurt Arkansas-Pine Bluff in every phase of the game.
Freshman Dylan Mingo turned in another strong showing as well. He scored 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting, grabbed five rebounds and handed out three assists. He also came away with six steals, and he looks like he’ll be a major defensive weapon for Baylor this season.
The only rough spot for Mingo came at the line, where he went 1-for-4. Outside of that, he was excellent.
The UAB transfer also made his presence felt in a quieter way. He finished with nine points and six rebounds, but his impact went well beyond the box score. He was flying around, chasing loose balls and bringing full effort even with Baylor already way out in front.
That kind of edge matters once Big 12 play begins. Baylor will need players willing to fight for 50/50 balls, and Chatman looks like someone who will do exactly that.
Brett Decker, who is expected to be Baylor’s top shooter this season, had a tough night from the floor. He scored eight points while going 2-for-10 overall and 2-for-9 from three. It wasn’t a bad outing so much as a cold one; the shots just didn’t fall.
Elijah Williams also had an uneven shooting night, finishing with 12 points on 5-for-12 from the field and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. He added three steals and three blocks, and the late two dunks helped pad his final line. Before that, he had eight points on 3-for-10 shooting.
Overall, Baylor got contributions across the board in a game that was never in doubt.
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Iowa State arrives off an upset of Oklahoma State, even while carrying one of the Big 12s least productive offenses and leaning heavily on running back Aiden Flora to keep drives alive. Baylors offense has been more effective by comparison, and the bigger question may be whether the Bears can keep their quarterback upright against a defense that has not piled up sacks, a detail that could shape how smoothly this homecoming game unfolds. [Read more 🡒]