Teasett’s 3-pointers not enough to overcome speedy No. 1 Baylor

WACO, Texas – Northwestern State’s Carvell Teasett rained down five 3-pointers in the first half, but the No. 1 Baylor Bears had plenty of firepower of their own as the Bears raced to a 104-68 win on Tuesday.

Teasett drilled his first two 3-pointers as part of a 12-6 NSU run after the Demons weathered a rough start.

Clawing back to a 19-12 deficit, Teasett stole a Baylor pass and had a chance to further slice into the Bears’ edge when he couldn’t get a transition floater to fall for the Demons (3-11).

The Bears (12-0) took advantage with a transition bucket of their own from Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, and then Baylor did what it does best.

The Bears piled on a 13-2 spurt to build a 32-14 edge and didn’t look back as they rushed to a 58-30 halftime edge, shooting 55 percent from the field.

“Baylor is really really good, and it’s just hard to explain how fast they are, and watching on TV just doesn’t do it justice,” said NSU coach Mike McConathy. “They are the defending national champions, and they were really really special tonight.

“It was difficult at times but we did some good things. We had some chances early to stay in the game, but we missed some bunnies and Baylor took advantage.”

The Bears accounted for the first 13 points of the game by scoring on six of their first eight possessions as NSU couldn’t connect on their first seven shots.

Baylor’s James Akinjo and Adam Flagler each made three 3-pointers to highlight the Bears advantage in fastbreak points (17-4) and points off turnovers (13-3) in the first half.

Akinjo scored 18 of his game-high 27 points in the first stanza while Flagler added 13 of his 21 points before the break.

Teasett saved his best fireworks for the end of the half when he made three 3-pointers in a 1:17 stretch. The freshman guard scored 15 of his season-high 18 points in the first half on six 3-pointers, one short of his career high. He added five assists.

NSU made 11-25 from deep, which is the most against Division I opponent this season, but the Demons couldn’t find Baylor shooters either as the Bears sunk 13-35.

The Demons 68 total points is the second-most Baylor has allowed this season, although Baylor’s 104 is the first NSU opponent to top the century mark since Nov. 25, 2020 (Texas Tech).

Baylor showcased much of the same offensive efficiency in the second half, finishing 50 percent from the field and totaling 37 fastbreak points and 26 points off 17 NSU turnovers.

NSU had battled relatively well on the boards against bigger teams this season, but Baylor held a plus-16 rebound advantage despite the Demons grabbing three more rebounds in the second half.

Freshman Kendal Coleman continued his double-digit scoring streak with 12 points, although his double double streak ended at four games with four rebounds Tuesday.

Most of his points came against Baylor big man Zach Loveday, who played on Coleman’s team this summer as part of the Athletes In Action tour in North Macedonia. The other Baylor participant and Bears leading scorer LJ Cryer didn’t play because of an injury.

“Baylor was really physical inside, and because those players and Baylor assistant Bill Peterson being part of that summer tour, they knew what Kendal could do and were prepared,” McConathy said. “But I thought Kendal had a really strong finish to the game, and guys like Emareyon McDonald, Jovan Zelenbaba and Zurabi Zhgenti gave us some good minutes late.”

The contest was NSU’s third matchup against a top-ranked team in 12 months (played Gonzaga twice in December of 2020) and the fourth of McConathy’s NSU tenure (played No. 1 Illinois).

The Demons have an eight-day break before they wrap up their nonconference slate against Southland Conference opponents as they head to Katy, Texas, for the SLC Tipoff Event.

NSU starts with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 6 to start the three-day event, which will proceed in a bracket format.

All teams are guaranteed three games from Jan. 6-8 as winner’s advance in the bracket with an additional consolation bracket constructed for losing teams.