National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Baylor 66, New Mexico St. 55
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Where: Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas
Officials: # Kipp Kissinger, # Larry Spaulding, # Mark Whitehead
Attendance: 4787

Baylor 66, New Mexico State 55: Johnathan Motley scored a game-high 16 points and blocked five shots and the host Bears forced 19 turnovers on the way to their fourth straight victory.

Lester Medford and Al Freeman both added 10 points for Baylor (9-1) which improved to 6-0 at home. Rico Gathers added seven points and notched game-bests with 12 rebounds and seven steals.

Shorthanded New Mexico State (4-7) was led by Remi Barry with 14 points and Pascal Siakam added 12 for the Aggies, who are winless in seven road games. The Aggies played without reigning WAC Player of the Year Daniel Mullings, who is out several weeks with a broken finger, and forward Tshilidzi Nephawe, who missed the game with a foot injury.

The Aggies shot 47.8 percent from the field in the first half, the highest against the Bears this season, but were still trailing 32-24 at the break as Baylor forced 10 turnovers. New Mexico State cut the deficit to 34-32 early in the second half but Freeman followed a steal with a 3-pointer to extend the lead the 43-33 with less than 15 minutes remaining.

New Mexico State trimmed a 14-point deficit to 50-42 with 6:17 to play but Baylor again responded, getting four free throws by Motley and a big 3-pointer by Medford to build a 57-43 lead and the Aggies never got closer than 11 the rest of the way. Baylor entered the game fifth in the nation in rebounding margin and won the battle on the boards 39-30 and posted 13 steals.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Baylor has held eight of its 10 opponents to less than 25 points in the first half ...New Mexico State didn't attempt a free throw for nearly 24 minutes. ...Teams from the Big 12 conference have won 21 straight games.
Top Game Performances
 
New Mexico St.   Baylor
Remi Barry 14 Scoring Johnathan Motley 16
Ian Baker 5 Assists Kenny Chery 7
Remi Barry 5 Rebounds Rico Gathers 12
Remi Barry 3 Free Throws Made Johnathan Motley 6
Pascal Siakam 4 Steals Rico Gathers 7
Jalyn Pennie 1 Blocks Johnathan Motley 5
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
New Mexico St. 55 45.7 6-12 7-13 19 27 3 6 19
Baylor 66 39.3 7-15 11-21 14 39 7 13 9