Randall University @ Baylor preview

Baylor gets a breather from the rigors of major-level competition when it hosts Randall University on Saturday in its third annual appearance at Fort Hood army base in Texas. The No. 22 Bears don't figure to have to work up much of a sweat against the Saints, who rolled to a 97-75 win on Friday night at Central Christian College of the Bible (Mo.) before traveling to Fort Hood, which is located about one hour southwest of Baylor's campus in Waco.

The caliber of opponent isn't a big deal for Bears coach Scott Drew - he is just happy with the effect holding a game at Fort Hood has on the soldiers. "Each and every year around the holidays, I know this is a special honor for us to say thank you to all of the soldiers' families and soldiers for all that they do for us and the freedoms they allow us to have," said Drew at a press conference, "and we've had great experiences coming here in years past and I know our players really enjoy signing autographs afterwards and being able to say thank you." Baylor lost consecutive games to Xavier and Wichita State after a 5-0 start and rebounded with Monday's 84-56 rout of Sam Houston State. "It was great to come back and have a chance to get a quick turnaround and get a chance to feel better about ourselves," senior center Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. told reporters. "Coming off two losses in a row, we knew we needed to bounce back and the team did a great job of playing with energy and our defense was great."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest Plus

ABOUT RANDALL (5-8): The Saints from Moore, Okla., are two-time defending National Christian College Athletic Association Division II champions and their Friday night game was in Moberly, Mo., more than 750 miles away from Fort Hood. Randall shot 56.5 percent from the field in the victory over Central Christian as it received 23 points apiece from senior guard Xavier Hunter and senior forward Trey Sneed. Hunter, who was 5-of-7 from 3-point range on Friday, averages a team-best 20.7 points while Sneed is second at 13.4 per game.

ABOUT BAYLOR (6-2): Senior guard Manu Lecomte leads the Bears in scoring (16.6) and 3-point baskets (26) and has scored in double digits 53 times in his career. Lual-Acuil averages 13.3 points along with a team-best 9.4 rebounds and contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds against Sam Houston for his fourth double-double of the campaign. Senior forward Nuni Omot matched his career best of 15 points in the victory after failing to reach double digits in each of the previous five contests.

TIP-INS

1. The Bears won the lone previous meeting, 92-51 on Nov. 22, 2004.

2. Baylor senior F Terry Maston recently suffered a broken right hand and won't return until some point in January.

3. Bears junior G Jake Lindsey has 29 assists against just two turnovers.

PREDICTION: Baylor 107, Randall 50