MBB's 2nd-Half Rally Comes up Short at Cincinnati, 69-67

Tuesday, February 25

Cincinnati, Ohio

6 PM

Baylor

Cincinnati

MBB's 2nd-Half Rally Comes up Short at Cincinnati, 69-67

2/25/2025 8:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

BU's Edgecombe hits five 3-pointers, scores game-high 18 points

By: Jerry Hill

CINCINNATI, Ohio – For the last 20 minutes of Baylor basketball's game Tuesday night at Fifth Third Arena, coach Scott Drew saw "the team that we can be the rest of the way out."

Looking nothing like the team that made only one field goal in the last 10 minutes of the first half, the Bears erased a 13-point halftime deficit and actually took a one-point lead on freshman VJ Edgecombe's third-straight 3-pointer.

But Edgecombe missed a driving layup off the glass in the final seconds as the Cincinnati Bearkats (17-11, 7-10) held on for a 69-67 win, handing the Bears (16-12, 8-9) their second-straight two-point road loss and fifth loss in their last seven games.

"I think second half was the half we need to finish the year out and grow from there," Drew said. "A lot of good things in the second half. And if we can duplicate that the rest of the way, we're going to be fine."

Edgecombe scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the second half, going 4-for-6 from 3-point range, and added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

"Being able to make shots feels good," Edgecombe said. "But at the end of the day, you want to win. It just doesn't matter if we don't win. That's the main thing for me. If I could have done something else that was going to contribute to us winning, that's what I'd be more excited for."

Miami transfer Norchad Omier recorded his 16^th double-double of the season and 84^th of his career with 15 points and 10 rebounds, tying Virginia's Ralph Sampson for the fifth-most in NCAA basketball history. But on Edgecombe's late miss, Omier lost the rebound to 6-1 Bearkats guard Day Day Thomas, with Cincinnati having the possession arrow after a held ball.

"I take the blame on that one," said Omier, who scored 11 second-half points. "A little bit more effort on my part, I could have got that. Who knows, things could have gone differently."

Instead, Baylor suffered its fifth loss by four or fewer points, including Saturday's eerily similar 76-74 loss at Colorado.

"At the end of the day, all I want to do is get a win," Omier said. "That's what we're stiving for. . . . It's a tough loss, everybody's sad. We've got to figure it out for these last three games."

In a first half of runs, the Bears took their first lead of the game by outscoring Cincy, 10-2, going up 19-14 on three-straight buckets by Duke transfer Jeremy Roach, who had eight points and two assists in 25 minutes off the bench.

A second-chance 3-pointer by freshman Robert O. Wright III off an offensive rebound and kick out by Omier, gave Baylor a 22-17 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the opening half. But the Bears were just 1-of-10 from the floor over the last 10 minutes and trailed 39-26 at the break.

Baylor got the job done on both ends in the second half, outscoring the Bearkats, 41-30. The Bears shot 52% overall, including 8-of-15 from 3-point range, while limiting Cincinnati to 39% shooting.

A big momentum shift came with 9:40 left in the game, when Omier picked up his fourth foul and sat for the next 6 ½ minutes. The Bears were trailing 66-64 when Omier went back in the game, but they missed three chances to take the lead or at least tie it up.

"We cut that lead, we had momentum," Drew said. "And there are two or three fouls that he can't make. He's too important. With NIL, you don't have the depth you normally have, so he's got to be cleaner, play better."

Cincy point guard Jizzle James hit three 3-pointers and shared game-high scoring honors with Edgecombe with 18 points. Dillon Mitchell narrowly missed a double-double himself with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Josh Reed and Thomas scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Outscoring the Bearkats (17-11, 7-10), 41-30, in the second half, the Bears shot 51.6% over the last 20 minutes, including 8-of-15 from outside the arc. The biggest difference in the game was Cincinnati's 16-4 edge in points off turnovers, taking advantage of Baylor's 12 turnovers.

Returning home for two of their last three regular-season games, the Bears will host Oklahoma State (14-14, 6-11) at 7 p.m. Saturday for "Senior Night" at Foster Pavilion. The Cowboys upset ninth-ranked Iowa State, 74-68, Tuesday night in Stillwater.