Baylor gets off to strong start in OT, tops Arizona St.

Field Level Media|published: Sun 12th January, 24:42 2025

NCAA Basketball: Baylor at Arizona State

Jan 11, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Baylor Bears guard VJ Edgecombe (7) against the Arizona State Sun Devils in overtime at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Norchad Omier recorded 19 points and eight rebounds and Baylor rediscovered its form in overtime to post a 72-66 victory over Arizona State in Big 12 play on Saturday night at Tempe, Ariz.

V.J. Edgecombe added 15 points and Josh Ojianwuna had 12 points and a career-best 17 rebounds for the Bears (11-4, 3-1 Big 12), who won for the sixth time in seven games.

BJ Freeman scored a season-high 22 points before fouling out for Arizona State (10-5, 1-3), which lost for the fourth time in six games. Alston Mason had 14 points and Basheer Jihad had 10.

Baylor controlled the extra session and scored the first eight points of the frame, with the run ending with Omier's layup with 1:26 left.

Arizona State later pulled within 70-66 on Jihad's 3-pointer with 26.5 seconds left, but Jayden Nunn answered with two free throws with 20.8 seconds to go as Baylor closed out the victory. Nunn scored 10 points for the game.

Arizona State trailed by 15 in the second half but made a late charge and moved within 60-59 on Mason's layup with 10.5 seconds remaining.

Baylor's Jeremy Roach split two free throws with 7.3 seconds left before Adam Miller of the Sun Devils scored on a driving floater with 1.9 seconds left to tie the game at 61.

Joson Sanon, Arizona State's leading scorer entering Saturday, returned from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury and scored five points in 17 minutes of action.

Omier's tip-in in the opening minute of the second half gave Baylor a 34-20 advantage.

Freeman went on a personal 6-0 burst a short time later as Arizona State moved within 36-29 with 16:20 remaining in regulation.

Baylor answered with eight straight points. Edgecombe drained a 3-pointer, Ojianwuna slammed home a dunk and Roach sank a trey, and the Bears held a 44-29 advantage with 14:49 left.

The Sun Devils scored 13 of the next 18 points and pulled within 49-42 on Freeman's two free throws with 8:08 remaining.

Omier's 3-pointer pushed the Baylor lead back to 10 before Jayden Quaintance scored inside and Miller drilled a trey to bring Arizona State within 52-47 with 6:22 left, and the Sun Devils continued their push.

Edgecombe scored 12 first-half points, and Baylor led 32-20 at the break.

--Field Level Media