Baylor Basketball Earns Statement Win Over Utah Before Big 12 Tournament

Bears shoot lights out, get Drew's 500th career victory in final home game of season

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Baylor Bears dominated Utah in their final home game of the season, winning 92-75 and giving head coach Scott Drew his 500th career victory. Four Bears scored in double figures, led by a combined 47 points from Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou. Baylor shot an impressive 68% in the first half and finished with 22 assists and only 3 turnovers, a stark contrast to their season-long struggles with assist-to-turnover ratio.

Why it matters

This win gives Baylor momentum heading into the Big 12 tournament, where they will need to string together at least four wins to earn an NCAA tournament bid. The Bears have a chip on their shoulder and are determined to "steal something" in the conference tournament.

The details

Baylor came out firing, hitting 13 of their first 14 shots with the help of Carr and Isaac Williams connecting from deep. The Bears controlled both ends of the floor, playing stifling defense that led to easy transition buckets. Baylor's bench also contributed 30 points, with Dan Skillings and Michael Rataj providing a big boost.

  • Baylor hosted Utah on March 7, 2026 in their final home game of the regular season.
  • The win gave Baylor head coach Scott Drew his 500th career victory.

The players

Scott Drew

Baylor's head coach who earned his 500th career victory with the win over Utah.

Cameron Carr

Baylor's star guard who scored 24 points and combined with Tounde Yessoufou for 47 points in the win.

Tounde Yessoufou

Baylor's standout forward who scored 23 points and teamed up with Carr to lead the Bears' offensive attack.

Dan Skillings

Baylor reserve who played 22 minutes and had a +/- of 26 points, providing a big boost off the bench.

Michael Rataj

Oregon State transfer who scored 14 points in 28 minutes, playing with newfound confidence.

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What they’re saying

“I think we have a chip on our shoulder. We are going in there to steal something.”

— Cameron Carr (Instagram)

What’s next

The Bears will now turn their attention to the Big 12 tournament, where they are slated to face Colorado in the opening round. A win there would set up a tough road ahead, but Baylor is determined to earn an NCAA tournament bid by stringing together at least four wins in the conference tournament.

The takeaway

Baylor's dominant performance over Utah showed the Bears are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time. If they can continue to share the ball, shoot efficiently, and get contributions from their bench, Baylor will be a dangerous team to face in the Big 12 tournament as they fight to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive.