WACO, Texas (AP) - Manu Lecomte had no problems with the NIT's experimental 3-point line, hitting 5 of 8 from distance and scoring 24 points to help Baylor beat Wagner 80-59 in the first round on Tuesday night.
Baylor, a top-seed, made seven of its first 11 shots and held eight-seed Wagner to 3-of-23 shooting in the first quarter to take a 21-9 lead. After Wagner went on an 11-2 second-quarter run to pull to 29-22, Lecomte capped an 11-3 run with his fourth 3-pointer of the half to make it 40-25.
It was Lecomte's 10th 20-plus game of the season.
Nuni Omot's dunk off an alley-oop pass from Lecomte near midcourt came during a 14-2 run to open the fourth quarter for a 65-45 lead.
Terry Maston had 13 points and eight rebounds for Baylor (19-14), which plays the winner of Wednesday's Nebraska-Mississippi State in the second round. Omot added 11 points and King McClure scored 10 with three of the Bears' 10 3-pointers.
Blake Francis made four 3-pointers and scored 23 points for Wagner (23-10). Romone Saunders had nine points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Francis scored 20 of the Seahawks' first 32 points but Wagner trailed by 13.
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