Keyonte George scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half to lead No. 21 Baylor to an 81-74 victory over host Texas Tech on Tuesday night in Big 12 play at Lubbock, Texas.
LJ Cryer added 18 points and was 4-for-4 from 3-point range as the Bears (13-5, 3-3 Big 12) won their third consecutive game. Jalen Bridges tallied 14 points, all in the first half, for Baylor.
Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 19 points and collected 12 rebounds for Texas Tech (10-8, 0-6), which has lost six straight games for the first time since having two six-game skids during the 2014-15 season.
Pop Isaacs scored 14 points, Kerwin Walton had 12 on four 3-pointers, Fardaws Aimaq contributed 12 points and nine rebounds, and Kevin Obanor had 10 points for the Red Raiders.
George made five 3-pointers while recording his eighth 20-point effort of the season.
Baylor shot 48.3 percent from the field and made 11 of 29 from 3-point range.
The Red Raiders hit 50.9 percent of their shots, including 12 of 31 from behind the arc. The Bears committed just three turnovers while Texas Tech had nine.
The Red Raiders trailed by 15 with fewer than six minutes left before making a run. Tyson and Isaacs hit 3-pointers as Texas Tech pulled within 77-71 with 2:59 remaining.
The Red Raiders crept within five before George made two free throws with 42.8 seconds left to complete the scoring as the Bears closed it out.
George scored Baylor’s first 13 points of the second half to help his team hold a 61-52 lead.
After Harmon hit a jumper to pull Texas Tech within seven with 14:27 remaining, the Bears scored the next nine points. George buried a trey and Josh Ojianwuna scored in the interior to make it 70-54 with 10:50 left to play.
Cryer made two free throws for his first points of the second half to give Baylor a 77-65 lead with 3:59 left.
Cryer and Bridges each scored 14 first-half points as Baylor led 48-40 at the break. Tyson had 12 in the half for the Red Raiders.
The score was tied at 22 before the Bears went on an 11-1 burst. George capped the run with a basket to give Baylor a 10-point advantage with 6:48 remaining.
Cryer later scored Baylor’s final eight points of the half to make it 48-38 before Isaacs scored the final basket for Texas Tech.
–Field Level Media