Nov. 9, 2000

Box Score

WACO, Texas - Wendell Greenleaf and DeMarcus Minor had 22 points each and Baylor shot 52.1 percent from the field as the Bears defeated Team Ezybonds here Thursday night 93-63 in exhibition men's basketball action.

This was the first of two exhibition games for the Bears, who finished the 1999-2000 season at 14-15 with one of the nation's top turnarounds. Team Ezybonds, a traveling team from Australia, dropped to 0-6 on its tour through New Mexico and Texas.

Baylor drained 37-of-71 shots from the field on the night, including 13-of-27 (48.6 percent) from behind the three-point line. Greenleaf was 8-of-16 from the field and 6-of-12 from long range for his 22 points. Minor was near perfect on the night, hitting 9-of-11 from the field and both three-point attempts, he also dished out a game-high seven assists. Terry Black posted the game's only double-double with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

"I'm really proud of how hard we battled out there," second-year Baylor head coach Dave Bliss said. "We made good use of our speed, and we showed a lot of energy early in the game. DeMarcus Minor played with a lot of energy and purpose. He made himself very difficult to defend."

The 30-point loss was easily the largest margin of defeat for Team Ezybonds while on their tour. Two nights ago, they dropped a 79-77 decision at Texas A&M. Only Sam Houston State, which posted an 82-67 victory over Ezybonds Monday, had defeated Ezybonds by more than 11 points.

"I'll make no pretenses about it," Bliss said. "I know they got winded, and they are just trying to finish out their tour. But I was pleased with the way we started the game with a lot of energy."

The Bears started the game on a five-point run, initiated by a Greenleaf three-pointer 13 seconds into the contest. Save a 12-12 tie at the 16:10 mark in the first half, Baylor led the entire game. The Bears had their largest lead of the first half, 43-28, with just over four minutes remaining and then closed out the half with a 47-35 advantage.

The second half was not much different from the first, out-scoring Ezybonds 16-8 over the first seven and a half minutes of the half. After Greenleaf drained his fifth three of the night to put Baylor up 68-48 with 10:32 remaining, the Bears never led by less than 20 points.

Baylor out-rebounded the Ezybonds 43 to 28, grabbing 19 boards on the defensive end. Logan Kosmalski came off the bench for 11 points and eight rebounds, while Steve Othoro wiped the boards seven times with five offensive rebounds. Shon Robinson chipped in 11 points, and Greenleaf grabbed four steals.

The Bears will return to action Nov. 16, hosting the Houston Superstars at 7 p.m. in their second of two exhibition games. Baylor will begin regular season play Nov. 22 with a 7 p.m. game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the Ferrell Center.