WACO, Texas (Interstat) — Baylor built a commanding 24-point halftime lead and never looked back, defeating Colorado 86-67 in a men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Ferrell Center. The Bears shot 52.8% from the field and 41.7% from 3-point range to secure the victory. Tounde Yessoufou led all scorers with 27 points for Baylor, which improved to 13-9. Obi Agbim and Cameron Carr each added 19 points. Colorado, which fell to 13-10, was paced by Jalin Holland’s 12 points and a combined 22 points from Barrington Hargress and Isaiah Johnson. The Buffaloes cut into the large deficit after halftime but could not draw closer than 14 points. Attendance was 7,012.

WACO, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant opening act, the Baylor Bears used a first-half offensive clinic to build an insurmountable lead and cruise to an 86-67 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Ferrell Center. The contest was effectively decided before halftime, as Baylor erupted for 45 points on a blistering 60% shooting from the field, including 7 of 13 from three-point range. Colorado, meanwhile, struggled to find any offensive rhythm, managing just 21 points on 30% shooting in the period. The 24-point halftime deficit proved too deep a hole for the Buffaloes to climb out of, despite a more competitive second half. Baylor’s offensive efficiency was the story, finishing the game with an offensive rating of 124.9, scoring 86 points on just 69 possessions. Colorado’s offense, while improved after the break, could not keep pace, posting a rating of 100.1. The Bears shot 52.8% overall for the game and were a sharp 10 of 24 from beyond the arc. They also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 20 of 25 attempts. The Bears were led by a spectacular performance from sophomore guard Tounde Yessoufou, who scored a game-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, adding three assists and two blocks. His backcourt mates provided ample support, with Obi Agbim of Aurora, Colorado, contributing 19 points and six assists, and Cameron Carr adding 19 points, six assists and two blocks. The trio combined for 65 of Baylor’s 86 points, orchestrating an offense that committed only nine turnovers. Colorado, which fell to 13-10 overall, showed flashes in the second half, scoring 46 points, but could never string together enough stops to seriously threaten. The Buffaloes were led by 12 points from Jalin Holland and 11 from Barrington Hargress. Ian Inman provided a spark off the bench with 10 points in just 11 minutes. Isaiah Johnson finished with 10 points and four assists. Colorado shot 40% for the game and was hampered by 16 missed free throws, going 16 of 23 from the line. The most important stretch of the game was a decisive 18-2 run by Baylor midway through the first half that transformed a narrow 11-7 lead into a commanding 29-9 advantage. The surge was fueled by a combination of stifling defense and efficient offense. It began with a Caden Powell jump shot off an offensive rebound and was punctuated by three-pointers from Agbim and Yessoufou, along with a transition alley-oop from Carr to Yessoufou. During this span, Colorado went scoreless for over four minutes, missing five consecutive shots and committing two turnovers, which Baylor converted into five points. This run established the tone and the margin that would define the entire evening. Baylor improved to 13-9 with the win and will travel to face Iowa State on Saturday. Colorado, which had won its previous game against TCU, returns home to host Arizona State on Saturday. The game drew an attendance of 7,012 to the Ferrell Center. Baylor entered the game as a 6.5-point favorite, according to sportsbooks, and covered the spread with ease. The total points scored, 153, fell under the pregame over/under line of 160.

Preview: Colorado Buffaloes at Baylor Bears WACO, Texas (Interstat) — Two teams hovering near .500 will look to build on rare conference victories when the Colorado Buffaloes visit the Baylor Bears in a Big 12 matchup Wednesday night at the Ferrell Center. Colorado (13-9) snapped a six-game losing streak in emphatic fashion with an 87-61 rout of TCU on Sunday. Baylor (12-9) ended a four-game skid with a gritty 63-53 road win at West Virginia on Saturday. The game features a compelling clash between two of the conference’s top performers. Colorado will lean on forward Sebastian Rancik, who is averaging 15.0 points over his last three games. He was instrumental in the win over TCU, scoring 17 points with six rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes. Baylor counters with guard Cameron Carr, who is coming off a dominant double-double at West Virginia with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Carr has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight contests, averaging 17.1 points during that stretch. Both teams have struggled for consistency in a deep Big 12. The Buffaloes’ recent skid included narrow losses to Kansas (75-69) and Texas Tech (73-71). The Bears’ slump featured a 97-90 home loss to TCU and a 92-73 defeat against Texas Tech. Defensive intensity will be a key factor. Baylor held West Virginia to 53 points, a season-best for Bears’ defense in conference play. Colorado forced 18 turnovers and held TCU to 34% shooting in its blowout win. The Buffaloes won the only meeting last season, 81-78, in Boulder. Wednesday’s contest begins a critical final month for both teams’ postseason aspirations. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST.