Norchad Omier, VJ Edgecombe each score 18 and Baylor beats Cincinnati for 10th straight home victory
Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe, right, reacts to teammate Jayden Nunn's three-point play against Cincinnati in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Waco, Texas. Credit: AP/Rod Aydelotte
WACO, Texas — Norchad Omier and VJ Edgecombe each scored 18 points, and Baylor beat Cincinnati 68-48 on Tuesday night for its 10th straight home victory.
Omier was recognized for reaching 2,000 career points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds to get within 34 of becoming the 14th player in NCAA history with 2,000 points and 1,500 rebounds. He also reached double-digit scoring for the 70th time in the last three seasons.
Baylor only led 22-18 with eight minutes left in the first half before closing on a 13-2 run for a 15-point lead at the break. Cincinnati made just one of its last 10 first-half field goals.
The closest Cincinnati got in the second half was 11 points, 39-28, after a 3-pointer by Dan Skillings Jr.
Josh Ojianwuna added 10 points and seven rebounds for Baylor (10-4, 2-1 Big 12).
Skillings finished with 18 points and five 3-pointers and Aziz Bandaogo scored 11 for Cincinnati (10-4, 0-3), which has lost three straight games. Simas Lukosius, a 6-8 senior guard from Lithuania averaging a team-best 13.6 points, was held to five points on 2-of-7 shooting.
The Bearkats were ranked 19th in the AP poll before single-digit losses to Kansas State (70-67) and Arizona (72-67) by a combined eight points.
Cincinnati guard Jizzle James battles Baylor guard Jeremy Roach for a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Waco, Texas. Credit: AP/Rod Aydelotte
Cincinnati returns home to host No. 11 Kansas on Saturday, when Baylor is at Arizona State.
