Baylor Bears Dominate the Paint: Can Houston Cougars Recover?
The Baylor Bears, ranked 13th, showcased a commanding performance against the unranked Houston Cougars with a final score of 83-60. The Bears now hold an impressive record of 21-2, while the Cougars stand at 17-6 after this encounter.
At the Fertitta Center in Houston, the Baylor Bears demonstrated their dominance early on by establishing a lead in the first quarter and maintaining it throughout the game. The team's offensive execution was particularly notable in their two-point shooting where they achieved an exceptional 69 percent conversion rate. Their overall field goal percentage stood at an efficient 56 percent.
The Bears' defensive efforts were equally impressive as they amassed a total of seven steals and one block, contributing to their robust defensive presence on court. This tenacity limited the Cougars to a mere 31 percent from the field and forced them into committing thirteen turnovers which translated into eleven points for Baylor.
On top of that, Baylor's rebounding was dominant; they outrebounded Houston by an overwhelming margin with fifty-two rebounds to twenty-six. Of these, forty-four were personal rebounds with thirty-four being defensive and ten offensive rebounds which helped secure second-chance opportunities resulting in thirteen second-chance points.
The ball movement for Baylor was fluid as evidenced by their nineteen assists which facilitated easy baskets and displayed their cohesive team play. Despite turning over the ball twenty-six times themselves, they managed to maintain control over proceedings due largely to their ability to convert on scoring opportunities especially within paint where they racked up forty-four points.
Houston did manage some resistance through eleven steals and three blocks but struggled offensively throughout most of the game. They did however excel at free throw shooting with a near-perfect rate of ninety percent but this precision from line wasn't enough to bridge gap created by Baylor's offense.
As fans look ahead, 'the' Baylor Bears will be visiting 'the' BYU Cougars at Marriott Center in Provo on February 7th at 8:00 PM Central Time. This upcoming game will be available for viewing on ESPN+ internet broadcast network where fans can follow if 'the' Bears can continue their winning streak away from home.