Baylor crushes CU Buffs

WACO, Texas — Hoping to recapture the competitive spark Colorado received from a reshuffled starting lineup earlier in the week, head coach Tad Boyle rolled with the same opening five at Baylor.

This time, there was no spark from the starting lineup. Or from the other key players coming off the bench. And it didn’t take long for the Buffaloes to fizzle.

Much like a week earlier at Iowa State, the Buffs were run out of the gym quickly Wednesday night. Unlike the matchup against Iowa State, ranked seventh in the nation, this time it happened against a team CU had a reasonable belief it could defeat.

Instead, Colorado’s first visit to Baylor in 15 years ended in an embarrassment, as the Bears rolled past the Buffs in a 86-67 romp at Foster Pavilion.

It was the seventh loss in eight games for the Buffs, while Baylor won its second consecutive game after losing seven of its first eight Big 12 Conference games.

CU freshman Isaiah Johnson scored the game’s first bucket, but that proved to be the only lead of the night for the Buffs, who quickly fell into a 16-6 hole.

The Buffs remained within nine points before the Bears reeled off a 16-4 run, paving the way for a 45-21 halftime lead for Baylor. CU committed nine of its 10 turnovers in the first half.

Baylor went 7-for-15 on 3-pointers in the first half and finished 10-for-24. The Bears posted a .528 overall field goal percentage, becoming the ninth opponent to shoot at least 50% against the Buffs and the fourth in the past six games.

Johnson, CU’s leading scorer, endured his most frustrating shooting effort of the season, going 3-for-13 with 10 points. Standout freshman Tounde Yessoufou led Baylor with 27 points, while Colorado native Obi Agbim added 19 points and six assists for the Bears.

Colorado (13-10, 3-7  Big 12) returns home to host Arizona State on Saturday (7:30 p.m., ESPN2).

Baylor 86, Colorado 67

COLORADO (13-10, 3-7 Big 12)

Ifaola 0-0 0-0 0, Hargress 5-7 0-0 11, Holland 3-7 5-6 12, Johnson 3-13 3-4 10, Sanders 2-3 3-4 7, Rancik 1-5 2-2 5, Dak 2-8 0-0 5, Michaeli 2-5 3-7 7, Inman 4-6 0-0 10, Crawford 0-0 0-0 0, Kossaras 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 16-23 67.

BAYLOR (13-9, 3-7)

Powell 2-3 2-2 6, Agbim 6-12 4-4 19, Carr 6-12 4-5 19, Williams 2-4 1-2 5, Yessoufou 10-16 3-4 27, Rataj 1-5 5-6 7, Nnaji 1-1 1-2 3, Kuykendall 0-0 0-0 0, Perry 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-53 20-25 86.

Halftime: Baylor 45-21. 3-Point Goals: Colorado 7-17 (Inman 2-4, Hargress 1-1, Dak 1-2, Rancik 1-2, Holland 1-3, Johnson 1-4, Michaeli 0-1), Baylor 10-24 (Yessoufou 4-7, Carr 3-6, Agbim 3-9, Rataj 0-2). Fouled Out: Ifaola, Williams. Rebounds: Colorado 26 (Dak 6), Baylor 32 (Carr 8). Assists: Colorado 11 (Johnson 4), Baylor 17 (Agbim, Carr 6). Total Fouls: Colorado 18, Baylor 19.