MORGANTOWN, W.Va.–Makai Mason scored 29 points as Baylor defeated West Virginia 85-73 on Monday night.
At the half, the Bears (12-6, 4-2 Big 12) had a 46-31 lead. Baylor extended its lead to 21 on King McClure’s layup.
However, the Mountaineers (9-10, 1-6) turned on their pressure defense and went on a 13-2 to make it a 61-51 game with 10:50 remaining.
The two teams battled back and forth for several minutes before the Bears put WVU away for good.
King McClure and Matthew Mayer added 11 points apiece for Baylor.
James “Beetle” Bolden led the Mountaineers with 22 points. Brandon Knapper added a career-high 15 points.
“We were 1 and 5 in the league,” WVU head coach Bob Huggins said. “How could you not be ready to play? Now, we’re 1 and 6. I don’t understand how you could not be ready to play.”
The Mountaineers forced 18 turnovers, 16 of which came in the second half.
WVU only made 10 of its 26 layup attempts.
The Mountaineers shot 39 percent from the field and 24 percent from beyond the arc.
The Bears shot 50 percent from the floor and 30 percent from 3.
WVU travels to Knoxville to take on top-ranked Tennessee in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday.
Cover Photo Credit: Shanna Rose, BGS
