Baylor Blasts Southern

By Chad Conine, The Sports Xchange

WACO, Texas — If Baylor was worried about a long layoff for final exams interrupting its phenomenal early season momentum, then the Bears put those concerns to rest quickly against Southern.
Fourth-ranked Baylor returned from the 11-day break and picked up its rhythm with no problem as the Bears raced past Southern 89-59 Wednesday night at the Ferrell Center.
Forward Johnathan Motley scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Baylor (9-0). Bears forward Ishmail Wainright and guard Al Freeman each scored 14.
“We were ready to get out here,” Motley said. “I know I had fun just getting out there and playing again. I was looking forward to it all week.”
Baylor ascended to its second-highest ranking in program history on the strength of four wins over top 25 opponents already this season. Southern was facing its first top 25 foe and couldn’t keep up.
“The first half we had no rhythm,” Southern coach Roman Banks said. “I thought the second half, we cut it to 19 or something, we missed two layups and obviously, that was intimidation from the big guys. I think that was our last true run.”
Southern forward Jared Sam and guard Shawn Prudhomme scored 24 points apiece to top the Jaguars (4-6).
Baylor built a 26-point lead midway through the first half and never let Southern back within 18.
The Bears sank 57.1 percent of their shots from the floor while limiting the Jaguars to 41.1 percent shooting.
“The big thing is we were pretty consistent the entire night defensively, holding them to 59 points,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “And 22 assists on 36 made field goals was very impressive.”
Baylor started hot as Motley scored the Bears’ first seven points during an 11-0 run in the first three minutes.
“My teammates just found me in the right spots and I just was getting open and making the shots,” Motley said.
Prudhomme hit a 3-pointer to end Baylor’s opening surge, but the Bears continued to assert control.
Following a steal by Wainright, Baylor guard Manu Lecomte went to the basket for a layup and a 40-14 lead.
The Bears scored 20 points off of 11 Jaguars turnovers in the first half.
“Right out the gates, that’s too many (points off turnovers),” Banks said. “The key stat is, if we turn the ball over, we want to make sure that it’s something that they can’t run out on. Even in the second half, when we missed a layup or turned it over, they got out and made a 3 or a couple layups and deflated us each time.”
Motley led the Bears with 14 first-half points, and Freeman added 10 in the first 20 minutes.
Southern managed a 12-3 run to cut into the Bears’ lead. Prudhomme, who led the Jaguars with 13 points in the first half, hit a jumper to make it 43-26.
Baylor answered, and guard Jake Lindsey’s trey with 29 seconds to go in the first half put the Bears up 52-26 at halftime.
The Bears played without reserve forward Terry Maston, who averages 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds.
“(Maston) showed up late for the game,” Drew said. “Every situation’s unique, every situation’s different. So, we handled it today.”