NUNN TOO SOON
3/12/2025 11:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Senior guard hits first five shots, scores 18 points in win over K-State
Jerry Hill, BaylorBears.com
KANSAS CITY, MO. – Baylor senior guard Jayden Nunn didn't light it up in pregame warmups or even have an inkling of what was to come in Wednesday's second-round game in the Big 12 Championship at T-Mobile Center.
"Nah, just when the game started and the first two shots go in or first three shots go in, then I know it's just going to be a good day," said Nunn, who hit his first five shots and scored 12 of his 18 points in the first half, helping the seventh-seeded Bears (19-13) knock off 10th-seeded Kansas State, 70-56, and advance to the quarterfinals.
"Just when you start making shots in a row, getting in a rhythm. After that, I know it's a good day, for sure."
Even on a day when Miami transfer Norchad Omier (12 points, 14 rebounds) and freshman VJ Edgecombe (19 points, 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles, it was Nunn's instant offense that got the Bears going.
Baylor coach Scott Drew called a timeout just 1:19 into the game, when the Bears missed their first three shots and fell behind, 4-0.
"We obviously didn't come out . . . we had good shots, but we weren't going to the hole strong," Drew said. "We gave up buckets, we didn't get buckets. And at the end of the day, maybe that was a little nerves. Guys responded well to it, but I'd seen enough of that."
Subbing in at the 16:24 mark with Baylor trailing 8-6, Nunn hit a 3-pointer a little over a minute later to give the Bears the lead for good, 9-8. Driving by K-State defenders for layups on the next two possessions, he finished off a one-man 7-0 run in a stretch of 1:16.
"He was huge," said Duke transfer Jeremy Roach, who had nine points and five assists, with Baylor's bench outscoring the K-State reserves, 27-4. "To see that confidence from him in March, if we're going to make this run, we're going to need that from him the whole time. He's been working his tail off."
In the eight games since he returned to the bench, Nunn had averaged just 6.0 points per game and shot 30.8% from 3-point range (8-of-26). For that matter, he had only scored as many as 12 points just once in his previous 21 games. He had that by halftime.
Nunn said his stutter-step dribble is a "big weapon for me, especially when I've got bigger defenders on me."
"Just when I've got the mismatch and everything, I can get to the hole," he said. "I can create my own shot, a 3-ball, or whatever I want."
Continuing that hot start, Nunn hit another driving layup and then drained a 3-pointer that pushed Baylor's lead to 28-18 with 7:49 left in the first half.
While he finally missed his first shot about a minute later, Nunn finished the half with a bang when he blocked 5-11 Michigan transfer Dug McDaniel's jumper, sending the Bears into the break with a 41-24 lead.
"I just like defending shots," said Nunn, who let out a scream after his second block of the night. "I like getting stops, and those blocks mean a lot to me. I like showcasing my defense."
Baylor's last points of the half came on an Edgecombe dunk off an inbounds pass from Roach that appeared to be too high.
"It was a great pass by Jeremy. I credit the guy on my left (Nunn). He seen it, he saw what they ran, and we executed from there.
Drew said that it's not hard coaching "when you can throw it to 12 feet and know that he's got it."
While Nunn and Omier carried the load in the first half, Edgecombe scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in the second half. With 10 rebounds, he recorded his second-career double-double and first since a 13-point, 10-board game versus Sam Houston on Nov. 12.
The Bears took their biggest lead a minute and a half into the second half, 46-27, when Nunn hit a 3-pointer and Omier had a dunk off an assist from freshman Robert O. Wright III.
K-State (16-17) had a 6-0 run to get as close to 12, but the Wildcats were never able to get within single-digits in the second half. David N'Guessan led three double-figure scorers with 20 points and 10 boards.
"You've got to take advantage of every opportunity that's placed before you," Nunn said of March Madness basketball. "Just play hard, give everything to God and let Him determine the outcome."
The Bears advance to face ninth-ranked and second-seeded Texas Tech (24-7) in Thursday's 6 p.m. quarterfinal that will be broadcast by ESPN or ESPN2.
"Just eat, hydrate, watch some film," Roach said of the quick turnaround. "We played them like a month ago at their spot, so just watch that film, see what we can take from that, see what we can learn and just get ready for tomorrow."
KANSAS CITY, MO. – Baylor senior guard Jayden Nunn didn't light it up in pregame warmups or even have an inkling of what was to come in Wednesday's second-round game in the Big 12 Championship at T-Mobile Center.
"Nah, just when the game started and the first two shots go in or first three shots go in, then I know it's just going to be a good day," said Nunn, who hit his first five shots and scored 12 of his 18 points in the first half, helping the seventh-seeded Bears (19-13) knock off 10th-seeded Kansas State, 70-56, and advance to the quarterfinals.
"Just when you start making shots in a row, getting in a rhythm. After that, I know it's a good day, for sure."
Even on a day when Miami transfer Norchad Omier (12 points, 14 rebounds) and freshman VJ Edgecombe (19 points, 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles, it was Nunn's instant offense that got the Bears going.
Baylor coach Scott Drew called a timeout just 1:19 into the game, when the Bears missed their first three shots and fell behind, 4-0.
"We obviously didn't come out . . . we had good shots, but we weren't going to the hole strong," Drew said. "We gave up buckets, we didn't get buckets. And at the end of the day, maybe that was a little nerves. Guys responded well to it, but I'd seen enough of that."
Subbing in at the 16:24 mark with Baylor trailing 8-6, Nunn hit a 3-pointer a little over a minute later to give the Bears the lead for good, 9-8. Driving by K-State defenders for layups on the next two possessions, he finished off a one-man 7-0 run in a stretch of 1:16.
"He was huge," said Duke transfer Jeremy Roach, who had nine points and five assists, with Baylor's bench outscoring the K-State reserves, 27-4. "To see that confidence from him in March, if we're going to make this run, we're going to need that from him the whole time. He's been working his tail off."
In the eight games since he returned to the bench, Nunn had averaged just 6.0 points per game and shot 30.8% from 3-point range (8-of-26). For that matter, he had only scored as many as 12 points just once in his previous 21 games. He had that by halftime.
Nunn said his stutter-step dribble is a "big weapon for me, especially when I've got bigger defenders on me."
"Just when I've got the mismatch and everything, I can get to the hole," he said. "I can create my own shot, a 3-ball, or whatever I want."
Continuing that hot start, Nunn hit another driving layup and then drained a 3-pointer that pushed Baylor's lead to 28-18 with 7:49 left in the first half.
While he finally missed his first shot about a minute later, Nunn finished the half with a bang when he blocked 5-11 Michigan transfer Dug McDaniel's jumper, sending the Bears into the break with a 41-24 lead.
"I just like defending shots," said Nunn, who let out a scream after his second block of the night. "I like getting stops, and those blocks mean a lot to me. I like showcasing my defense."
Baylor's last points of the half came on an Edgecombe dunk off an inbounds pass from Roach that appeared to be too high.
"It was a great pass by Jeremy. I credit the guy on my left (Nunn). He seen it, he saw what they ran, and we executed from there.
Drew said that it's not hard coaching "when you can throw it to 12 feet and know that he's got it."
While Nunn and Omier carried the load in the first half, Edgecombe scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in the second half. With 10 rebounds, he recorded his second-career double-double and first since a 13-point, 10-board game versus Sam Houston on Nov. 12.
The Bears took their biggest lead a minute and a half into the second half, 46-27, when Nunn hit a 3-pointer and Omier had a dunk off an assist from freshman Robert O. Wright III.
K-State (16-17) had a 6-0 run to get as close to 12, but the Wildcats were never able to get within single-digits in the second half. David N'Guessan led three double-figure scorers with 20 points and 10 boards.
"You've got to take advantage of every opportunity that's placed before you," Nunn said of March Madness basketball. "Just play hard, give everything to God and let Him determine the outcome."
The Bears advance to face ninth-ranked and second-seeded Texas Tech (24-7) in Thursday's 6 p.m. quarterfinal that will be broadcast by ESPN or ESPN2.
"Just eat, hydrate, watch some film," Roach said of the quick turnaround. "We played them like a month ago at their spot, so just watch that film, see what we can take from that, see what we can learn and just get ready for tomorrow."
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