Baylor (10-4, 2-1 Big 12 Conference) used a stifling defense in the first half, the Edgecombe first-half fireworks, and a strong start to the second half to push past Cincinnati (10-4, 0-3 Big 12) for its fourth win in as many meetings vs. the Bearcats over the last two seasons.
The win stretched Baylor’s home winning streak to 10 games, the fourth-longest active streak in the Big 12 and tying the 10th longest home winning streak in school annals. It was Baylor’s longest home win streak since a 12-game stretch over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Edgecombe, a native of the Bahamas, totaled 18 points and four rebounds in 30 minutes, sinking 7-of-13 shots. The Bears also got 18 points and 10 rebounds from fifth-year senior Norchad Omier, who notched his NCAA-leading 76thcareer double-double and his eighth of the year.
Josh Ojianwuna had 10 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes, while Jeremy Roachadded six points, Jayden Nunn chipped in nine and Robert Wright III had seven points and three boards.
The Bears shot 50% on 27-of-54 from the field, including 5-of-14 from deep, while holding the Bearcats to 35%. BU had a 29-27 margin in rebounds and a 40-16 edge in points in the paint.
The Bears used a furious 13-2 run to close the first half to build a 15-point margin at the break, holding the Bearcats to just six made field goals in the opening stanza.
Baylor will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face Arizona State at 10:30 p.m. CT on ESPN and the Baylor Sports Media Network.
The Bears opened the game with 11 of the first 20 points, getting an early paint bucket from Ojianwuna to start the scoring. After a wing 3-pointer from UC, Omier finished a transition finger roll for a 4-3 lead. The Bears then scored the next five, with Jayden Nunn getting a bucket in the paint then sinking a corner trey. After a Bearcat putback slam on one end, Omier stretched the lead to 11-7.
After a UC bucket cut the lead to two before the first media break, Rob Wright III helped snap a two-minute scoreless stretch by finding Omier rolling to the rim for an and-1 and a 14-9 lead. Edgecombe sank a triple and answered a UC trey with a jumper for a seven-point lead. After a Cincinnati triple, its third of the game, Edgecombe finished an and-1 with a transition finish in traffic for a 22-15 lead with nine minutes left in the first stanza.
Dan Skillings Jr. drilled a corner 3-pointer to cut the lead to 22-18, which was answered by Edgecombe following an offensive rebound on the other end, putting him in double figures for the 10th time in 13 collegiate games. Ojianwuna stretched the lead to nine with a flush at the rim, forcing a timeout from UC’s Wes Miller.
The lead grew to 29-18 – the first double-digit lead of the game – with an Omier clean up on the offensive glass. Roach’s floater pushed the lead to 31-18 – part of a 9-0 run – and promoted another timeout from Miller. The Bears finished the half on a 13-2 run to build a 35-20 lead at the break, forcing UC into nine misses in its final 10 shots. The Bears shot 50%, including 15-of-30 from the field, holding UC to just six made baskets in the first half, good for 23%. UC held a 19-17 lead in rebounds but the Bears owned a 22-2 margin in points in the paint in the period.
The Bearcats scored eight of the first 14 points in the second half, with Baylor notching buckets from Ojianwuna, Edgecombe and Roach to take a 41-28 lead into the first media timeout. The Bears grew the lead to 50-33 following a basket from Omier, an and-1 from Edgecombe, and a triple from Nunn with 11:35 remaining in regulation.
Edgecombe’s thunderous dunk in transition pushed the lead to 52-33 with 11 minutes left and Omier pushed the lead to 20+ with a putback off the offensive glass, part of a 7-0 run that decidedly put the game out of reach.
- Baylor is 10-4 on the season and 2-1 in conference play. Cincinnati is 10-4 and 0-3 in Big 12 action.
- Baylor leads the all-time series with Cincinnati, 4-0, including 3-0 in Waco.
- Baylor is 165-100 in Big 12 in the last 15 seasons after going 50-149 in the league’s first 13 seasons.
- The Bears are 138-39 over the last six seasons, the nation’s second-best winning percentage among power-5 teams in that span.
- Scott Drew is 454-249 in his 22nd season with the Bears.
- The Bears are 77-8 in home games over the last six seasons.
- Baylor is 107-12 when leading at the half over the last six seasons and 131-19 when leading in the second half during that stretch. Baylor is 9-1 when leading at half in 2024-25.
- BU has built double-digit leads in 126 of 162 games over the last five seasons, owning a 119-7 mark in those games.
- Baylor’s 329 wins since 2011-12 are second-most in the Big 12 behind only Kansas.
- Baylor is 420-178 since 2007-08, which marked Drew’s first season with a full allotment of scholarships.
- Baylor is 138-39 over the last six seasons, the nation’s best winning percentage among power-4 schools in that span.
- The Bears used the starting lineup of Jeremy Roach, Jayden Nunn, VJ Edgecombe, Norchad Omier and Josh Ojianwuna for the 11th time this season, the Bears are 8-3 using that lineup.
- The win stretched Baylor’s home winning streak to 10 games, the fourth-longest active streak in the Big 12 and tying the 10th longest home winning streak in school annals. It was Baylor’s longest home win streak since a 12-game stretch over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
- The Bears are 7-0 in 2024-25 and 207-12 under Drew when shooting 50% or higher.
- BU is 11-2 in 2024-25 when notching more points in the paint than its foe and 311-100 under Drew.
- Omier had 18 points, on 7-of-9 shooting, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in 28 minutes.
- Omier is the NCAA’s active leader in career rebounds (1,466), double-doubles (76) and rebound average, while owning 2,043 career points.
- Omier now just 34 rebounds away from becoming the just the 14th player in NCAA history with 2,000+ career points and 1,500+ rebounds.
- Omier recorded his eighth double-double of the year and the 76th of his career.
- Omier reached double digits in scoring for the 12th time on the year, with the Bears 10-2 in those games. Over the last three years, Omier has 70 double-digit scoring in performances in 82 games.
- With 10 points, Ojianwuna recorded his eighth double-figure scoring game this season after having five combined in his first two seasons combined.
- Ojianwuna added seven rebounds in 27 minutes.
- Edgecombe finished with 18 points on 7-of-13 from the field, with four rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes.
- Edgecombe reached double figures for the 10th time in 13 collegiate games, with the Bears 9-1 in those games.
- Nunn added nine points in 34 minutes.
