Colorado falls to Baylor 86-67, can’t contain Yessoufou’s 27 points

Baylor overwhelmed Colorado last night in Waco, Texas. The Bears unleashed a shooting clinic in the first half, establishing dominance early with a 45-21 halftime lead. Tounde Yessoufou‘s explosive performance sealed a decisive 86-67 victory in Big 12 play.

Yessoufou Dominates in Dominant First Half Display

Tounde Yessoufou controlled the game from the opening tip, establishing Baylor as an offensive powerhouse. The 19-year-old guard from Benin found his rhythm early, connecting on nearly everything he touched in the first 20 minutes. His aggressive approach forced Colorado to scramble defensively throughout the half.

Baylor complemented Yessoufou’s intensity with a barrage of early three-pointers and sharp ball movement. The Bears jumped out to a 45-21 halftime lead, essentially deciding the game before intermission. Yessoufou finished 10-of-16 shooting overall, showcasing both range and efficiency in the paint.

Carr and Agbim Provide Deep Offensive Bench for Bears

Cameron Carr and Obi Agbim proved Baylor has scoring depth beyond Yessoufou. Both guards finished with 19 points, combining to make six three-pointers that kept Colorado from mounting any comeback threat. Carr added eight rebounds and six assists, controlling tempo and spacing.

Agbim’s performance was equally influential off the bench, tallying six assists alongside his scoring. Baylor‘s balanced attack showcased why the Bears have emerged as a threat in league play. Baylor made 20 of 25 free throws, demonstrating composure in high-pressure situations that Colorado couldn’t replicate.

Colorado Outscored Second Half But Never Threatened

Team Stat	Baylor	Colorado
First Half	45 points	21 points
Second Half	41 points	46 points
Field Goal %	52.8%	40%
Three-Point %	42%	41%

Colorado mounted a second-half effort, outscoring Baylor 46-41 after the break despite trailing by 24 points at one point. Jalin Holland provided some comfort with 12 points, while Ian Inman scored 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting. Barrington Hargress and Isaiah Johnson each added 10 points for the Buffaloes.

However, Colorado never cut the Baylor lead to single digits in the final period. A Carr jumper with 8:27 remaining stretched the margin to 70-41, and Baylor controlled the rest of the way. The late bench contributions proved too little, too late for the Buffaloes.

“Baylor led nearly wire-to-wire en route to an 86-67 Big 12 Conference win.”

Reuters

Records Remain Competitive in Crowded Big 12 Conference

Baylor improved to 13-9 overall with a 3-7 Big 12 record, though the win helps solidify their conference standing. Colorado drops to 13-10 overall with a 3-7 conference record. Both teams sit near the middle of a Big 12 conference loaded with top-25 teams like Arizona (undefeated at 9-0) and Iowa State.

The Bears travel to league-leading No. 7 Iowa State on Saturday, while Colorado hosts Arizona State in a similarly challenging matchup. Each team needs consecutive wins to climb the competitive Big 12 standings and secure tournament positioning.

Will Colorado Find Its Rhythm Against Arizona State This Weekend?

Colorado suffered another lopsided first-half loss, a pattern that plagued them throughout January. Defensive lapses allowed Yessoufou to establish rhythm early, setting the tone for Baylor’s dominant performance. The Buffaloes must address early-game composure before facing Arizona State. Can Tad Boyle’s squad tighten defensively and start strong, or will poor first halves continue derailing their tournament hopes?

Sources

• ESPN – Full game recap with box scores and play-by-play coverage from the Baylor matchup
• Reuters – Game summary with statistical breakdown of Yessoufou’s performance and Baylor efficiency
• AP News – Official box score and final score verification with team records