Clark sparks Baylor's runaway win over New Orleans, 84-44

Dec 30, 2018, 02:14 am

WACO, Texas -- Tristan Clark scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and Baylor built on its momentum from a win over Oregon by walloping New Orleans, 84-44 Saturday night in its final tune-up before opening Big 12 play.

The Bears struggled against another Southland Conference team 11 days ago, turning the ball over 18 times in a 59-58 loss to Stephen F. Austin. Facing New Orleans, which plays a similar, aggressive-style defense, Baylor thrived.

New Orleans (5-6) came in averaging 11 steals per game, a total that ranks third nationally. Against Baylor the Privateers had seven.

Amari Haynes put New Orleans up, 10-8 with 11:29 left in the first half, but Clark answered with a jumper to spark a 14-0 run that put the Bears up 22-10 after Makai Mason scored at the basket. After Bryson Robinson hit a 3 to end New Orleans' drought, Mason hit from deep to spark a 5-0 run. Baylor led 37-21 at intermission and opened the second half with an 11-0 run.

Jared Butler came off the Baylor bench to contribute 16 points as the Bears (8-4) shot 31 of 59 (52.5 percent) from the field, including 10 of 25 from deep. Mason, a grad transfer, added 13 points while Mario Kegler added 10 points and grabbed eight boards.

Robinson finished with 11 points and was the lone New Orleans scorer to reach double figures as the Privateers shot just 16 of 61 from the field, including 7 of 22 from deep.