Baylor Bears vs Cincinnati Bearcats Match Player Stats On Oct 21, 2023

Blake Shapen passed for 316 yards and Isaiah Hankins made four field goals, including one from 54 yards, to lead Baylor to a 32-29 victory Saturday over host Cincinnati in the first meeting between the Big 12 programs.

Cincinnati, in its first season in the conference, has lost five straight games.

Baylor (3-4, 2-2) is 2-0 on the road and 1-4 at home this season.

Shapen's passing, completing 25 of 42 attempts with a touchdown and no interceptions, Hankins' field goals and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by Byron Vaughns was the difference against Cincinnati (2-5, 0-4).

After Hankins made his fourth field goal of the game -- a 43-yarder with 7:01 left -- Cincinnati responded with a 75-yard scoring drive.

Xzavier Henderson's 29-yard touchdown pass from Emory Jones cut Baylor's lead to 32-29 with 5:03 remaining.

Baylor was forced to punt on its next possession.

A 51-yard punt by Palmer Williams forced Cincinnati to start from its 7 with 2:19 remaining.

The Bearcats managed a first down but then turned the ball over on downs at their 42 with 1:25 remaining after Jones was sacked and three incompletions.

Jones, formerly of Florida and Arizona State, completed 19 of 30 pass attempts with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Shapen's 41-yard pass to Ketron Jackson Jr. set up his 3-yard touchdown run with 12:16 left in the second quarter, giving Baylor a 10-7 lead. The Bears led the rest of the way.

Vaughns scooped up Braden Smith's fumble on the ensuing kickoff return and went 14 yards for the touchdown, putting Baylor ahead 17-7 with 12:09 left in the second quarter.

Myles Montgomery, who earlier had a 38-yard touchdown run, scored on a 1-yard run with 14:20 left in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 29-21.

Cincinnati outgained Baylor on the ground 288-80.

Corey Kiner led the Bearcats with 129 yards on 15 carries. Montgomery finished with 103 yards on 10 rushes.

--Field Level Media