Baylor Rallies Past BYU 81-72 in Big 12 Win
WACO, Texas – No. 14 Baylor came from behind to defeat No. 18 BYU 81-72 on Tuesday night at Foster Pavilion. The Cougars led 39-33 at halftime and extended their lead in the second half, but turnovers and foul troubles led to Baylor’s comeback.
Baylor had a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 28 of 14 attempts, compared to BYU’s 11 of 14. Spencer Johnson and Trevin Knell scored 15 points each for BYU, while Jalen Bridges had 25 for Baylor.
BYU coach Mark Pope was given a technical foul with 54 seconds remaining and the Cougars trailing 77-70.
Three keys contributed to Baylor’s Big 12 win. First, the Cougars struggled to keep the Bears off the free-throw line, which ultimately made the difference in the game. Baylor’s 21 of 28 free-throw shooting proved crucial.
Secondly, BYU had a strong first half, holding the home team to 35% shooting and shooting 52% themselves. However, they struggled with turnovers, with Baylor turning 14 BYU turnovers into 18 points.
Despite their strong first half, the Cougars were unable to maintain their lead as Baylor rallied to secure the win.