KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Baylor Bears, once hopeful for the Big 12 Championship crown, faced off against ninth-ranked Texas Tech with high stakes and even higher expectations. What looked promising quickly went south for the Bears, who suffered their third loss of the season against Tech, falling 76-74 at the T-Mobile Center on March 13, 2025.
Despite making significant strides from their prior losses to Gonzaga and Tennessee, Baylor could not overcome the early deficit inflicted by Texas Tech’s deft shooting. The Red Raiders began the game with staggering momentum, hitting eight shots consecutively which secured them a double-digit lead within the first five minutes. Yet, the Bears, led by their veteran coach Scott Drew, exhibited resilience, deploying suffocatinig zone defense to claw their way back, reminiscent of their buzzer-beater win against St. John's.
Baylor managed to make it interesting with under 10 seconds remaining, as VJ Edgecombe, who came off the bench, attempted to sink a three-pointer to win the game. Unfortunately, his shot came up just short as time expired. "Credit the guys for getting the shot up and executing, trusting each other," Drew remarked following the nail-biting loss. This sentiment encapsulated both the struggle and the spirit of the season for the Bears, who now stand at 19 wins and 14 losses for the season.
Norchad Omier delivered phenomenal individual performance, scoring his season-high of 29 points and grabbing 15 rebounds; this game marked his 21st double-double, breaking the school record and placing him second on the all-time NCAA list behind the legendary Tom Gola. Reflecting on the game, Omier stated, "You know they're a great team coming in. Nobody saw [the strong shooting performance from Tech] coming, five players were hitting threes. It was amazing. But at the same time, I came to the locker room and told the guys [that Texas Tech] couldn't play any harder than they did."
Despite their positive effort, Baylor's defense stumbled early—allowing Tech to hit 12-of-19 from three-point range, leading the Bears to trail 52-39 at halftime. Then, just when Baylor seemed to adjust to the pressure, Texas Tech’s shooting dramatically slumped, managing only 19.4 % from the field and not hitting any field goals during the final seven minutes of the game. Coach Drew credited his players’ tenacity, "Really, the key was the players really communicated, really bought in and helped each other and really contested shots, made things tough," highlighting the teamwork exhibited during the intense moments.
Jayden Nunn, stepping up especially during the second half, contributed 10 points and sunk an important three-pointer with just 13.1 seconds left, narrowing the gap to 74-72. "It was big, just getting it under two [possessions]," Nunn said. "I just took my time, got in rhythm and shot it." His contributions were pivotal as Baylor inflicted significant pressure on Texas Tech's offense, which faltered as they missed their last 10 shots from the field.
Christian Anderson’s missed pair of free throws with 4.5 seconds left opened the door for Baylor's last-ditch effort. Omier secured the rebound off the second miss and quickly passed it out to Edgecombe, who made the attempt at the buzzer. While he missed the mark, Nunn expressed his unwavering belief, stating "I'm for sure thinking buzzer-beater, no matter who shot it. I'm thinking it's going in because I trust my teammates."
Edgecombe's overall contribution was solid as he finished the game with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, showing his ability to impact the game even as he is still finding his rhythm at the collegiate level.
With the loss, Baylor now awaits the NCAA Tournament selections set to be announced on March 16, 2025, during CBS’s five p.m. show. Scott Drew lamented the unnecessary uncertainty the team faces about their chances, stating, "I think the win last night ended the bubble talk," referring to his team's push to solidify its standing within the tournament framework and their hopes of retaining the momentum as they debrief for the upcoming weeks.
Teasing the next steps, Drew emphasized, "Need to get Langston [Love] healthy and need to get everybody dialed in for the tournament," indicating the importance of cohesion and health heading to the NCAA stage. Meanwhile, the final four for the Big 12 will see Houston face BYU, followed by Texas Tech going against Arizona on March 14.
Omier, who has previous experience reaching the Final Four with Miami, reflected on the exhilarating nature of March Madness, saying, "Playing basketball is fun, but getting a win in March, there is no greater feeling than this. I'm excited." With both excitement and uncertainty hanging over the team, Baylor is prepared to face whatever challenges lie ahead as they head toward the NCAA Tournament.