Waco, Texas – Ja’Kobe Walter showcased his scoring prowess, sinking four 3-pointers en route to a 23-point performance, leading No. 18 Baylor to a convincing 98-79 victory over an upset-minded Cornell team on Tuesday. This clash marked the inaugural game in the new Foster Pavilion.
The Bears (11-2) maintained an unblemished home record in their nonconference schedule, establishing a 16-point lead at halftime. Although Cornell (10-3) narrowed the gap to seven midway through the second half, Baylor surged in the closing minutes, extending their advantage to as much as 23 with 51 seconds left.
RayJ Dennis contributed 18 points for the Bears, complemented by Yves Missi’s impressive 16 points on a flawless 8-of-8 shooting. Jayden Nunn added 10 points to the winning effort.
Nazir Williams led Cornell with 17 points, while Chris Manon and Isaiah Gray chipped in 12 points each for the Big Red, representing the Ivy League.
The first basket in the new Foster Pavilion came from a putback jumper by Missi, answered by Cornell’s Sean Hansen’s inaugural 3-pointer. However, that marked the Big Red’s only lead of the game as Baylor surged ahead with an 18-4 run, capped by a second-chance jumper from Walter at the 10:31 mark of the first half.
Despite Cornell’s attempts to rally, Baylor carried a comfortable 58-42 lead into halftime, courtesy of Walter’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Williams led all scorers with 14 points before the break, while Walter and Missi each contributed a dozen points for the Bears.
Baylor continued their dominance into the second half, with Walter sinking two 3-pointers in the opening minute. Although Cornell initiated a 13-0 run, cutting the deficit to 70-50, they couldn’t overcome Baylor’s lead.
With this victory secured, Baylor looks ahead to Big 12 play, commencing with a matchup against Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon. The win in the inaugural game at Foster Pavilion adds another milestone to the Bears’ successful season.
