KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — Arizona State edged Baylor 83-79 in a Big 12 men’s basketball game Tuesday at T-Mobile Center. The Sun Devils avenged a loss to the Bears from earlier this season. Cameron Carr led all scorers with 25 points for Baylor, which trailed 44-35 at halftime. The Bears closed the gap after the break but could not complete the comeback. Arizona State’s efficient shooting, making 31 of 54 from the floor, proved decisive. Anthony Johnson paced the Sun Devils with 19 points. The outcome improved Arizona State’s record to 17-15, while Baylor dropped to 16-16. Both teams committed nine steals and nine assists in a tightly contested matchup.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — Two teams with identical records and recent history will meet with their NCAA tournament hopes likely on the line when seed Baylor faces seed Arizona State in the opening round of the Big 12 Championship on Tuesday. Both the Bears and Sun Devils enter the postseason at 16-15, needing a strong conference tournament run to bolster their resumes for an at-large bid. The matchup is a quick rematch from Feb. 21, when Baylor held off Arizona State 73-68 in Waco, Texas. Baylor arrives having snapped a four-game skid with a dominant 101-75 home victory over Utah on Saturday. The Bears’ offense, which had struggled during the losing streak, exploded behind a career-high 26 points from freshman guard Tounde Yessoufou. The standout first-year player has been a consistent force, scoring in double figures in nine consecutive games, including a 37-point outburst against BYU on Feb. 10. His matchup on the wing will be pivotal. Arizona State seeks to rebound from an 86-65 road loss to Iowa State that same day. The Sun Devils had previously won three of four, including an impressive 70-60 victory over Kansas. Their fortunes often hinge on the interior presence of sophomore forward Massamba Diop. In the Feb. 21 meeting, Diop recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He has been a defensive anchor, blocking multiple shots in five of his last seven games. The game will feature contrasting styles. Baylor leans on the dynamic scoring of Yessoufou and backcourt mate Cameron Carr, who scored 21 against Utah. Arizona State will look to control the paint with Diop and establish a physical, defensive tempo. Turnovers and second-chance points will be critical factors; Baylor committed only six in the first meeting while Arizona State won the rebounding battle. The winner advances to face top-seeded Houston in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. For both teams, the path to March Madness begins with surviving and advancing in Kansas City. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 11:30 a.m. CDT at the T-Mobile Center.