DALLAS — The eighth-ranked Baylor Bears secured a 72-67 victory against No. 16 Arkansas Saturday night, with Jayden Nunn leading the way with 16 points. Norchad Omier also made a significant contribution, registering a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. This win marked Baylor’s first of the season, allowing them to rebound from a heavy 101-63 defeat against sixth-ranked Gonzaga just five days prior.
Throughout the game, Baylor maintained control and never fell behind. They experienced three ties in total, with Nunn playing a crucial role by making key go-ahead baskets at each instance. His critical 3-pointer with 15:46 remaining in the game put Baylor ahead for good.
Despite the loss, Arkansas, shifting to a 1-1 record, managed to stay competitive. Freshman Boogie Fland contributed 17 points and seven assists, hitting a long-range 3-pointer that narrowed the gap to 70-67 with just 24 seconds on the clock. In the final moments, Baylor successfully broke through Arkansas’s press, allowing freshman V.J. Edgecombe to seal the game with two free throws.
Adou Thiero, one of four transfers who joined the Razorbacks along with coach John Calipari from Kentucky, delivered a stellar performance, scoring 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting in this matchup between historic rivals in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks’ home arena.
For Baylor, Jeremy Roach added another 13 points, while Edgecombe contributed 11, and Robert Wright scored 10.
Takeaways from the game reveal that Arkansas faced a significant increase in competition, fielding a lineup featuring six transfers and three freshmen after opening their season with a win over Lipscomb. Baylor, conversely, has played against Top 25 teams in each of their first two outings.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Thiero scored the first six points in the second half, igniting an 11-2 run for the Razorbacks that tied the score at 44. Nunn responded by hitting a 3-pointer from the top, assisted by Edgecombe, followed by another 3 from Edgecombe after securing the rebound from an Arkansas miss.
Statistically, Baylor dominated the game by leading for 38 minutes and 7 seconds; however, Arkansas displayed resilience with their notable run.
Looking ahead, Baylor will play host to Sam Houston on Tuesday night, while Arkansas will welcome Troy on Wednesday as they embark on a stretch of four consecutive home games.