By SAM LANCE
Just when it seemed like St. John’s had the game wrapped up, Baylor guard Jeremy Roach had other plans. After back-to-back free throw misses by St. John’s junior big man Zuby Ejiofor, Roach had a final look at the basket to win the game. And he didn’t miss.
Baylor trailed by 18 in the first half and by five in the second overtime and came all the way back to stun St. John’s, 99-98 in double overtime, in the first round of the Baha Mar Hoops – Bahamas Championship. Projected top-10 pick and Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe, although he struggled in his return to the Bahamas, hit a major 3-pointer to make it 98-96 before Roach’s heroics. “Jeremy Roach is a big time player,” Scott Drew said to CBS postgame. “He’s a winner. He makes big plays… Love seeing him make that shot and the team celebrate.” The Bears now have two marquee non conference wins against Arkansas and St. John’s after being dismantled by Gonzaga on opening night. The comeback vs. the Red Storm is Baylor’s biggest comeback since 2019. Center Norchad Omier led the way for Baylor with 24 points. He was joined by five other players in double-figures, including Roach (20 points), freshman guard Robert Wright III (17 points), senior forward Jalen Celestine (14 points), senior guard Jayden Nunn (12 points) and the Bahamas native Edgecombe (10 points). Roach, the Duke transfer, scored ten of his points in the second half and overtime. “I had two free throws to put us up four in regulation, I missed the first one,” Roach said. “But my teammates had my back, they had confidence in me and I just wanted to make a play… We all came together, we never back down. So it was a beautiful win.” Follow Sam Lance on Twitter Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookJEREMY ROACH WINS IT FOR BAYLOR AT THE BUZZER pic.twitter.com/cYbJlg9dYg
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) November 22, 2024
