WACO, Texas (AP) — Manu Lecomte scored 24 points and No. 9 Baylor took over in the second half in a 76-61 victory over No. 7 Xavier on Saturday.
Johnathan Motley added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Bears (8-0), who have beaten three Top 10 teams in the same season for first time. Half of Baylor’s eight wins have come against Top 25 teams.
Xavier (7-1) was up 51-50 when Edmond Sumner, who had 19 points, hit a 3-pointer with 11:15 to play. The Musketeers then went almost 9 minutes before making another field goal.
Lecomte, the former Miami transfer, put Baylor ahead to stay with two free throws. By time he made a jumper with 3:36 left, it capped a 21-2 run to put the Bears up 71-53.
Trevon Blueitt, who led the Musketeers with 23 points and fouled out, made a 3-pointer with 2:33 for their first basket since their last lead.
BIG PICTURE
Xavier: The Musketeers had won 21 consecutive non-conference games since a double-overtime loss at Auburn two years ago. They were 3-0 against Top 10 opponents last season, but the Big East’s best team in field goal percentage couldn’t hold down Baylor.
Baylor: The Bears have gone from not even getting a vote in the AP poll two weeks ago to No. 9 — and likely higher after another impressive victory. They even got a first-place vote last week, and may get more now. The Battle 4 Atlantis champions previously beat Top 10 teams Oregon and Louisville, and also defeated Top 25 Michigan State.
UP NEXT
Xavier plays its next two games against Pac-12 teams, going to Colorado on Wednesday and then hosting Utah next Saturday. The game against Utah is the first of four consecutive home games, a stretch that will conclude with the Big East Conference opener against Providence on Dec. 28.
Baylor has a 10-day break between games during final exams after what was their last real on-court test before Big 12 play begins Dec. 30. Their next game is Dec. 14 vs Southern University, one of three SWAC teams that will play in a four-game stretch over eight days when they also host John Brown, an NAIA school from Arkansas.
Photo: USA Today Sports
