Field Level Media
Feb 3, 2024
Jayden Nunn scored 16 points and knocked down a game-winning jumper with two seconds left as No. 18 Baylor survived a thriller to earn a 70-68 win over No. 12 Iowa State on Saturday in Waco, Texas.
The Bears had let a 15-point lead slip away and trailed 64-61 with 4:07 to go before scoring seven straight points, a run highlighted by RayJ Dennis' clutch 3-pointer that put Baylor up 68-64.
Tamin Lipsey drained a pair of free throws and knocked down a jumper to tie things at 68-all with 10 seconds to go, but Nunn snuffed any chance of overtime with his game-winner.
Dennis finished with 18 points while Jalen Bridges scored 14 for the Bears (16-5, 5-3 Big 12), who had lost their past three games to the Cyclones (16-5, 5-3).
Keshon Gilbert poured in a game-high 24 points to help fuel the rally by Iowa State, which was down 54-41 with 13:17 left in the game before putting together a monster 20-0 run.
That outburst put the Cyclones up 61-54 with 7:56 remaining, but Bridges stopped the onslaught with a trey, and Baylor followed with a rally of its own.
Milan Momcilovic chipped in 10 points as Iowa State shot 39.3 percent from the field compared to the Bears' mark of 45.7 percent.
Baylor took control late in the first half thanks to a 12-0 run, highlighted by 3-pointers from Bridges and Nunn that led to the Bears surging in front 33-19 with 4:28 to play in the period.
Momcilovic ended the run 23 seconds later by hitting a jumper, and a 3-pointer from Gilbert with 2:02 remaining brought the Iowa State deficit back under double digits at 33-24.
Gilbert hit another trey as time expired in the first half, but the Bears still were up at the break, 40-28.
The Cyclones trailed for the final 9:03 of the first half.
--Field Level Media