TEMPE, Ariz. — Norchad Omier led the Baylor Bears to a close 72-66 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night, scoring 19 points. After establishing a significant 15-point lead, Baylor was forced into overtime due to a strong comeback from the Sun Devils.

The Bears, sporting an 11-4 record and 2-2 in Big 12 play, had showcased their dominance earlier in the week with a 20-point victory against Cincinnati, keeping them to just 48 points. In the first half against Arizona State, Baylor looked poised for another easy win, but the situation changed dramatically as the game progressed.

In the second half, the Sun Devils (10-5, 1-3) found their offensive rhythm halfway through and narrowed the deficit, ultimately bringing the score to 60-59 with a layup from Alston Mason in the waning seconds. Jeremy Roach from Baylor managed to convert one of two free throw attempts, but Mason quickly equalized the game at 61-61 just before time expired with a driving layup.

Despite Omier missing a turnaround jumper at the buzzer, Baylor surged ahead at the onset of overtime, netting the first eight points to secure the win and prevent a disappointing defeat. V.J. Edgecombe contributed significantly with 15 points, while Josh Ojianwuna recorded a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Bears.

B.J. Freeman was pivotal for Arizona State, leading all scorers with 22 points, while Mason added 14 points to the total. The Sun Devils faced significant challenges throughout the first half against Baylor’s defense, managing only to score two baskets in the final 12:33, leaving them trailing 32-20 at halftime.

Struggling offensively, Arizona State found a breakthrough early in the second half and worked to push the game into overtime, hitting 14 of their 27 shots in that stretch. However, in the overtime period, they could only muster 2 of 10 from the floor.

Looking ahead, Baylor will be facing Arizona, while Arizona State is set to host UCF, with both games taking place on Tuesday.