Baylor MBB Wins Season Opener Over UTRGV, 96-81

Baylor men’s basketball rallied from behind in the first half to earn its first win of the season over UTRGV at Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas, 96-81. 

Despite a slow start from the Bears, a 12-0 run at the end of the first half helped the green and gold close the gap and eventually take the lead for the rest of the game. 

Leading BU in points was redshirt sophomore guard Cameron Carr, who garnered a career high in points with 28 and marked his second time achieving a double-figure game. Carr earned a career highs in field goals (nine), three-pointers (three) and free throws (seven).

“Cam is one of those guys, he looks really good,” Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. “When it’s cooking, it’s fun to watch. I think with Cam, the great thing at Tennessee and since he’s been here is just the consistency. He’s very skilled, as athletic as any player we’ve had here. But his overall toughness, ability to make winning plays, he’s doing those things defensively and more consistent.”

Fifth-year senior guard Obi Agbim (16), senior guard Dan Skillings Jr. (15) and freshman guard Tounde Yesseoufou (24) all earned double figures in scoring as well in a strong showing for the green and gold. The contest also marked Skillings Jr.’s 42nd double-figure scoring game of his career. 

The Bears opened with the starting lineup of Dan Skillings Jr., Obi Agbim, Michael Rataj, Tounde Yessoufou and Cameron Carr. Issac Williams IV and Caden Powell were the first players off the bench. 

After a slow start that put the Valqueros up 9-0, a trio of consecutive darts from behind the arc, two from Agbim and a sinker from Carr, got the Bears back on track, all in just one minute. 

UTRGV held a 26-12 lead at the second media timeout after going on a 17-1 run over the course of four minutes. After the pause, the Bears went on a 12-0 run to cut the lead. Agbim hit his third three-pointer of the day, continuing his active streak of 22 consecutive games with a three-pointer. Carr snagged a runaway dunk and continued that momentum with a three-point jumper, bringing the game to 26-20 in favor of UTRGV. Freshman Yessoufou scored two consecutive field goals to earn his first career points. 

“I was a little nervous,” Yessoufou said about his collegiate debut. “Thank God and my teammates and my coaches. They give me the confidence to go out there and play hard and rebound as much as I can.”

Even though the Valqueros ended the Bears' 12-0 run with a field goal, BU scored two more buckets to tie the contest at 28 apiece. 

After a back-and-forth five minutes, Baylor took the lead for the fourth time in the matchup with 1:49 left in the half. In the last minute of the half, the Bears saw Rataj, Skillings Jr., and Yessoufou go on a 10-0 run, which included a halftime buzzer-beater three-pointer from the freshman, which made Foster electric. The green and gold headed to the locker room up 46-37. 

“It was really exciting,” Carr said about the Baylor crowd. “Of course, there are areas where we can be better, but just taking advantage of the opportunity that we’re in, the bright lights and the good support we have from all of our fans that show up and bring the energy every single time, that’s something that’s exciting. Of course, we’ve got to play our hardest and make them proud.”

After the half, Baylor made the first point thanks to Yessoufou. This propelled the Bears to score the next 13 out of 18 points. BU held UTRGV to zero offensive rebounds until the 18:31 mark in the second half. 

The Bears continued to hold the lead with two dunks from Skillings Jr. and Powell and two beyond-the-arc baskets from Skillings Jr. and Yessoufou. Carr put up eight more points for the Bears to stay with the lead at 78-63 with 7:19 left in the game. 

After four minutes, Baylor maintained the lead, keeping the Valqueros to 85-71. Powell went 4-for-for at the line, as well as Yessoufou earning his 10^th field goal in a row. Even though he started the game 0-for-6 in the field, the freshman would go 10-for-10 afterward.

BU put up 11 more points in the last two minutes of the game, including two layups, one from Skillings Jr. and another from Agbim and Carr’s second dunk of the game, which made the Pavilion crowd go crazy. 

“I would say we’re already brothers,” Yessoufou said. “Coming together so quick and so fact was amazing to me. We can see it off the court, on the court, practices. Of course, we have our ups and downs, but we always stick together and just believe in each other and trust each other.”