FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) — Johnathan Motley had 23 points to lead five Baylor players in double figures and the No. 16 Bears beat Hardin-Simmons 104-59 Wednesday night in the first regular-season college basketball game played at Fort Hood, one of the nation’s largest Army posts.
Rico Gathers had 20 points while Al Freeman scored 12, and Taurean Prince and Jake Lindsey each had 11 for the Bears (8-1). Prince also had 10 rebounds, while Lester Medford had a career-high 13 assists.
Cameron Barnes had 11 points, while Christian O’Neal scored 10 for Division III Hardin-Simmons (6-5).
Fort Hood covers 340 square miles, with more than 40,000 soldiers living on the post about an hour from the Baylor campus in Waco. The game was closed to the general public, but 1,600 free tickets were distributed to soldiers and their families to attend the game at Abrams Field House on the post.
Fort Hood Garrison Commander Col. Todd Fox called the game an incredible opportunity for the post, and said he hoped to have more in the future.
Colors were presented by the honor guard from the Army’s 1st Calvary Division. A large American flag was on the wall behind the team benches.
The only time the Bears were behind was after Duane Hopper hit a 3-pointer just 15 seconds into the game.
Baylor pushed ahead 38-28 after seven points in 35 seconds late in the first half. That came right after Hardin-Simmons had gotten within three points on consecutive 3s by Cameron Barnes and Hopper.
Motley had a layup to start the Baylor spurt. Lindsey drove for a layup and Motley had a three-point play, making the free throw after Ishmail Wainright’s pass to him for a one-handed slam.
Wainright finished with nine points and seven assists.
Baylor led 48-32 at halftime after Gathers’ half-ending slam. There was only 1.5 seconds on the clock when Wainright inbounded with an almost full-court pass over two defenders to Gathers, who grabbed the ball, turned and took one step before the buzzer-beating dunk.
Wainwright was also involved in three alley-oop plays before halftime, only one of them resulting in a dunk.
After Medford’s looping pass was a bit off target, Wainwright adjusted for a layup. Wainright had a similar pass that resulted in a lay-in by Motley, though the two connected later in the half for Motley’s two-handed dunk.
TIP-INS
Hardin-Simmons: The Cowboys were a Division I school until 1990, but are since 0-27 against upper-division teams. … Forward Nathaniel Jack had three consecutive double-doubles, and five overall, before behind held to three points and five rebounds.
Baylor: The Bears have now gone 54 consecutive games without allowing 75 points, the nation’s longest active such streak. Baylor is 40-14 in that stretch. … Prince scored in double figures for the 25th time his last 27 games.
UP NEXT
Hardin-Simmons at LeTourneau on Dec. 31.
Baylor at No. 24 Texas A&M on Saturday night.
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