Teague scores 23, No. 2 Baylor beats Kansas State 100-69

Updated Dec. 19, 2020 6:51 p.m. ET
Associated Press

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Baylor returned from a week-long pause due to COVID-19 concerns and didn't miss a beat.

MaCio Teague had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Davion Mitchell scored 20 points and No. 2 Baylor beat Kansas State 100-69 on Saturday.

Jared Butler had 14 points and 13 assists for his first career double-double with the Bears (5-0, 1-0 Big 12), and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua scored 13 points.

“Butler is full of brilliance and very efficient,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “I think it started on the defensive end and the offensive end followed.”

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Antonio Gordon led the Wildcats (3-5, 1-1) with 23 points on 9-of-9 shooting, and Selton Miguel scored 14 points. Gordon is the eighth player in school history to be perfect from the field with at least nine shots attempted.

This was the first game back for Baylor in a week, after the school paused team activity as part of coronavirus protocols.

“There was definitely was an excitement for us to be here and to play again,” Drew said. “Every time you play it’s a joy and a privilege.”

The Bears shot 64% in the first half, including seven 3-pointers, to lead by 29 at the half.

“It’s really hard to guard us, so I wasn’t too surprised,” Mitchell said.

Baylor (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) finished shooting 58% while the Wildcats shot 47%. The Bears made 14 3-pointers while Kansas State connected on six.

“They kicked our butt,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. “I knew it would not be easy because they can beat you in so many ways.”

Kansas State turned the ball over 14 times. The Bears scored 21 points off those mistakes. Baylor also dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats 41-25.

“After the game I told them how special Baylor is,” Weber said. “They do a lot of good things, but we need to learn from it.”

Teague nailed three 3s and scored 12 of the first 15 points for Baylor while Tchamwa Tchatchoua scored 13 points on three alley-oop dunks by halftime.

“His energy really sparked us in the first half,” Drew said. “Making shots helps for the spacing and the execution was really well done.”

NO. 1 VS NO. 2

Drew said Baylor would try to reschedule a canceled game against No. 1 Gonzaga but that obstacles remained.

“There’s a lot we have to do for that to happen with CBS and league policy,” Drew said. “We hope it’s rescheduled for April in the tournament. I know both us coaches would love to play each other then.”

In the meantime, Baylor is in the process of scheduling another nonconference opponent before the new year.

BIG PICTURE

Baylor: The Bears looked to pick up right where they left off before their pause. If they shoot as well as they did against the Wildcats, they will be a tough team to beat against anyone in the Big 12.

Kansas State: Early turnovers and missed open shots haunted the Wildcats as they got into a big hole. The Wildcats needed to jump out to a fast start to keep up with Baylor.

UP NEXT

Baylor: Takes on the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 7 pm on Monday at home.

Kansas State: Hosts Jacksonville at 1 pm on the same day.

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