James Akinjo (right) finished with a game-high 25 points Monday night. Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

No. 8 Baylor rallies late to avoid upset loss to West Virginia

By Adam Stites | Last updated 1/31/22

The No. 8 Baylor Bears trailed by 10 at halftime against the unranked West Virginia Mountaineers, but rallied late in the second half to win, 81-77.

Baylor began the 2021-22 season 15-0 after winning the national championship a year ago, but lost three of six heading into Monday night. On Saturday, the unranked Alabama Crimson Tide beat Baylor, 87-78, knocking the Bears from No. 4 to No. 8 in the AP Poll.

The Bears avoided falling further with a big performance from James Akinjo. The former Georgetown and Arizona player scored 25 points, including five throws -- in six attempts -- in the last 90 seconds of the game to keep the Mountaineers out of reach.

West Virginia's Taz Sherman led all scorers with 29 points but suffered a head injury late in the second half when he was hit in the face by a defender.

Replay of West Virginia’s Taz Sherman being hit by a Baylor player. pic.twitter.com/AqbjgXqVtE
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) February 1, 2022

Sherman sat on the bench with an icepack to his head for the final three minutes of the game, and West Virginia coach Bob Huggins told reporters after the game that Sherman suffered a concussion.

Baylor improved to 7-2 in Big 12 play with the win and is now second in the conference behind only 6-1 Kansas. West Virginia fell to 2-6 and is tied for the last in the conference with Kansas State.

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