WACO, Texas — Manu Lecomte scored 22 points, including six of Baylor's 12 3-pointers, leading six players in double figures as the No. 24 Bears opened the season with a 107-66 win over Central Arkansas on Friday.
Lecomte, the Belgium-born senior point guard, made his four 3s in the first 9 1/2 minutes as the Bears took a 27-12 lead. Baylor never trailed after his long-range shot made it 10-8.
Terry Maston had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Bears. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., the returning 7-footer, scored 17 and had nine rebounds for Baylor. Nuni Omot, King McClure and true freshman Tristan Clark each scored 15 points.
Baylor made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season, when former Miami transfer Lecomte was the Big 12's top newcomer.
Jordan Howard scored 22 and Mathieu Kambahas 12 points for Central Arkansas in the first meeting between the two teams both nicknamed the Bears.
BIG PICTURE
Central Arkansas: Howard entered the season already as the school's career leader for 3-pointers made. He added three more in the opener of his senior season, pushing his career total to 276, already 70 more than the previous mark. He is one of 12 letterwinners back from last season for the Southland Conference Bears.
Baylor: All five Baylor starters were among the double-figure scorers. The much bigger Bears outrebounded UCA 42-21 and dominated inside, outscoring the visiting Bears 46-28 in the paint.
UP NEXT
Central Arkansas plays its home opener Sunday against the University of the Ozarks on Sunday before heading west to face UCLA.
Baylor plays its second of three home games in eight days Monday night, when Texas A&M Corpus Christi travels to Waco.