NCAA College Basketball Box Scores

National Basketball Association

BOXSCORE | RECAP

Baylor 107, Central Arkansas 66

When: 1:00 PM ET, Friday, November 10, 2017
Where: Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas
Officials: # Rick Crawford, # Tyler Kumpf, # Gary Maxwell
Attendance: 10284

By The Sports Xchange

WACO, Texas -- Baylor began a new campaign with a No. 24 national ranking despite losing star Johnathan Motley, who exited for the NBA after last season.

The Bears lived up to the ranking by rolling past Central Arkansas 107-66 on Friday afternoon at the Ferrell Center.

Baylor, which currently has only eight scholarship players healthy enough to play, placed six players, including all five starters, in double figures on the way to the 41-point win.

Central Arkansas coach Russ Pennell was impressed.

"When you lose a player like Motley, you're always probably wondering who's next," Pennell said. "I think that got answered today. I think the length and strength of this team inside was very impressive."

Senior point guard Manu Lecomte paced Baylor with 22 points, forward Jo Lual-Acuil added 17, and guard King McClure and forward Tristan Clark each had 15

Baylor senior forward Nuni Omot, who started for the first time at Baylor, collected 15 points and nine assists while forward Terry Maston added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

"We've got a lot of weapons and we showed it today," Lecomte said. "Inside, obviously our guys, they can't stop them. We had to just keep feeding them. And outside, we have great shooters and guys that can get into the lane."

Point guard Jordan Howard scored 22 points to lead Central Arkansas and guard Mathieu Kamba pitched in 12.

"I think (Howard) played about the way we expected him to," Pennell said. "I don't think he got any help from his friends. I thought today he let the game come to him."

Baylor already had an 18-point edge early in the second half when it took complete control with a 19-6 run. McClure capped it with a 3-pointer to put Baylor ahead 76-45 with 13:23 remaining.

Baylor coach Scott Drew said he liked the way his team passed the ball, but wants to see fewer turnovers as the season progresses. Baylor posted 29 assists and 16 turnovers.

However, as he looked at the final stat sheet in the postgame press conference, Drew liked what he saw.

"Coaches are nervous about everything. First game, you never know what it's going to be like," Drew said. "If you can get 85 percent from the free throw line, and 66 percent from the field and 71 from 3, you probably want to end the season right there. We really executed well offensively, very unselfish."

Baylor used a 14-0 run to open a 15-point lead midway through the first half.

Clark hit a trio of jumpers during the run and Lecomte added a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer.

But Baylor's defense created the surge as it held Central Arkansas scoreless for 3:36. Central Arkansas went 0 of 4 from the field and 0 of 3 from the free-throw line during the drought and Baylor forced a pair of turnovers.

Lecomte led Baylor with 16 points in the first half as he hit 4 of 5 field goals, including all four 3-pointers he shot.

Central Arkansas shot just 39 percent from the field in the first half and it couldn't keep pace with Baylor's 63-percent clip. Baylor led 53-37 at the break.

NOTES: Baylor now has a 12-game winning streak in season openers. The Bears won their previous 11 season openers by an average of 29.1 points. Baylor also boosted its winning streak to 44 straight in nonconference home games. ... Central Arkansas opened the season against a ranked Power-5 conference opponent on the road for the second-straight season. The Bears lost to No. 9 Wisconsin 79-47 last year. ... Baylor and Central Arkansas were playing for the first time.

Top Game Performances

Central Arkansas		Baylor
Jordan Howard 22	Scoring	Manu Lecomte 22
Deandre Jones 3	Assists	Nuni Omot 9
Tanner Schmit 4	Rebounds	Terry Maston 10
Jordan Howard 5	Free Throws Made	Nuni Omot 6
Thatch Unruh 2	Steals	Mark Vital 2
Mathieu Kamba 2	Blocks	Jake Lindsey 1

Team Stats Summary

Team	Points	FG%	3PM-3PA	FTM-FTA	Assists	Rebounds	Blocks	Steals	Turnovers
Central Arkansas	66	39.7	6-20	10-15	15	17	4	4	12
Baylor	107	66.1	12-17	17-20	29	39	3	5	16