WACO, Texas – Jumping out to an 11-0 lead in the first five minutes, 25^th-ranked Baylor never trailed in an 81-56 blowout victory over the Utah Utes in Tuesday's conference opener at Foster Pavilion.
 
In the first-ever matchup as conference opponents and first meeting in 64 years, freshman VJ Edgecombe paced four double-figure scorers for the Bears (9-3, 1-0) with 19 points, five rebounds and two steals.
 
Miami transfer Norchad Omier recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 15 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks and two steals, while Duke transfer Jeremy Roach and freshman Robert Wright III scored 15 points apiece.
 
Hunter Erickson and Mason Madsen led the visiting Utes (7-4, 0-1) with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
 
In his return to Waco after spending last year at Baylor, sophomore point guard Miro Little was 0-for-9 overall, 0-for-5 outside the arc, and had zero points, three assists and one turnover in 25 minutes. Another Baylor transfer, fifth-year senior forward Caleb Lohner had four points and a team-high seven rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.
 
Utah answered Baylor's hot start with a 12-4 run and pulled within 15-12 on a second-chance 3-pointer by Madsen. But the Bears scored the next seven points and closed the half with a pair of 3-pointers by Roach that made it a 20-point game, 37-17, going into the break.
 
The Bears held the Utes to 23% shooting from 3-point distance (7-of-30), won the rebounding battle, 46-37, and finished with a 22-8 edge in points off turnovers.
 
Baylor begins the new year with a matchup against third-ranked Iowa State (11-1, 1-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ames. The Cyclones opened league play with a 79-69 win over another Big 12 newcomer, Colorado, on Monday.