Baylor Beats Savannah State 100-61 After Dropping From Top 25
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WACO (AP) - Johnathan Motley has been coming off the bench for Baylor, like Taurean Prince did for most of his first three years with the Bears before becoming a starter this season.
"They expect me to get some low-post touches, get some easy buckets down low and rebound," said Motley, who started all 34 games as a freshman last season. "So, pretty much the same role, just different time entering the game. I'm just doing my job."
Motley had 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Bears in a 100-61 victory over Savannah State on Monday night. It was his second career double-double.
Prince, who started only eight of his 95 games the past three seasons, added 20 points, including 5 of 7 3-pointers, and had nine assists. He had made 32 percent of his field goals the first three games starting this season.
"It's been a few rough games, but it's just part of the process," Prince said. "You've got to stick with what you know and don't change up anything. Just continue to believe in yourself."
On the same day the Bears fell out of the AP Top 25, they hit the 100-point mark against a Division I opponent for the first time since a 112-66 win over Long Beach State on March 20, 2013. That was a first-round NIT game before Baylor went on to win that postseason tournament.
Rico Gathers had 16 points for Baylor, while Al Freeman had 14 and Ishmail Wainright 10. The Bears outrebounded the Tigers 44-25.
Lenjo Kilo had 13 points and Chris Martin 11 for Savannah State (3-2), which had 20 turnovers that led to 28 Baylor points.
Savannah State veteran coach Horace Broadnax didn't speak to reporters before leaving the arena in his own car.
The Bears won their 27th consecutive non-conference home game since a 74-70 loss to Northwestern on Dec. 4, 2012.
After Savannah State got within 24-22 midway through the first half, Baylor scored three consecutive baskets. Motley had a dunk and a jumper before Freeman's 3-pointer made it 31-22.
Motley's two-handed dunk, on a pass from Lester Medford after the guard's steal on the opposite baseline, gave the Bears a 22-14 lead.
Baylor had a 10-0 run in each half, and Prince had a 3-pointer in each of those spurts.
"We had a good talk yesterday. Your senior year, you've got a lot on your plate, a lot on your mind, a lot of pressure," coach Scott Drew said of Prince. "I think he enjoyed himself tonight, and that was good to see."
OUT OF THE POLL
Baylor was ranked No. 20 last week when it lost 74-67 at then-No. 25 Oregon. A 77-60 victory over Jackson State in their only other game last week wasn't enough to keep the Bears ranked in the new poll released earlier Monday. "I think we all realize also that the end-of-the-year rankings is when you want to be ranked, not now," Drew said.
TIP-INS
Baylor: The Bears have won all three games in the series by at least 30 points. The 39-point victory Monday was the largest in the series.
UP NEXT
Baylor hosts Arkansas State on Friday.
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