WACO, Texas (AP) — LJ Cryer had a career-high 20 points to lead five players scoring in double figures for ninth-ranked Baylor as the defending national champions overwhelmed Nicholls State University 89-60 on Monday in a rare midday game.

Freshman Kendall Brown had 13 points and 10 assists for the Bears (2-0), who had 33 assists on their 37 made baskets. Jeremy Sochan, another freshman, had 14 points, while returning guards Adam Flagler and Matthew Mayer had 12 each.

Cryer finished with 7-of-9 shooting and made five of Baylor's 13 3-pointers.

Ty Gordon had 20 points for the defending Southland Conference champion Colonels (3-1). Latrell Jones had 11 points.

About 3,000 students from 14 local elementary schools, many of the kids with sack lunches, attended the "I'm Going to College" game in the Ferrell Center.

Cryer hit two 3s and had a jumper in the game's first seven minutes, when Baylor made 10 of its first 14 shots and jumped ahead 25-11. A few minutes after that, Mayer and Sochan had 3s in a 12-0 run for the Bears.

The Bears extended their lead to 73-43 midway through the second half when Cryer had a steal and passed ahead to Brown for a breakaway dunk.

UP NEXT
Nicholls  faces another tough test against a Big 12 foe in the Lone Star State against TCU at 7 p.m. CT Thursday.