Dec. 15, 2010

Box Score (PDF)

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

WACO, Tex. ---  There was no way of getting around why Bethune-Cookman absorbed an 83-39 loss to ninth-ranked Baylor before 5,653 at the Ferrell Center Wednesday night.

"We were beaten by a much, much better team,'' said Bethune-Cookman coach Clifford Reed. "They are ninth in the country and they showed that tonight. They flexed their muscles, athletic, long, and a lot of shooters. We were beaten by a much better team and that's it."

The Bears (7-0) shook off a 13-day layoff and held the Wildcats (5-6) to 17 second-half points as LaceDarius Dunn led four players in double figures with 24. The victory helped the Bears set a school record with its 12th consecutive home victory.

 Baylor's height and zone defense were both impressive and simply too much for the Wildcats, who last two losses have come against unbeaten teams.

"We couldn't, and that was the whole thing." Reed said. "There were times they were throwing lobs and getting offensive rebounds and there was nothing you could do because there was just more size. We didn't match up at all."

Quincy Acy double-doubled with 14 points and 10 boards for the Bears , while Perry Jones (15 points) was one rebound away from a double-double as Baylor outrebounded B-CU 42-24 and limited the Wildcats to six field goals in the final 20 minutes.

C.J. Reed scored 12 of his 13 points in the second half, making three of his four three-pointer attempts. The first moved him past his dad into 12th place on the school's all-time scoring list.

Bethune-Cookman had leads of 2-1 on an Alexander Starling lay-up in the opening minutes, then Baylor scored the next six points and never trailed again.

B-CU got as close as 9-8 on a Starling lay-up with 15:27 remaining, but the Bears would gradually pull away to a 38-22 halftime lead as Dunn registered 16 points, including 6-6 from the free throw line.

Alexander Starling had his second straight double-figure rebound game with 10.

B-CU heads north for a Saturday contest with Akron University.

"When you get beat that bad, you don't have any teaching points," Reed said. "That's why I'm out of the locker room so quick. We'll regroup and you'll see a much better team against Akron."