Cincinnati Bearcats still seeking first Big 12 win after loss to Baylor Bears

In a sink-or-swim game in the Big 12 conference, the University of Cincinnati fell short again and is at best treading water after a 32-29 defeat to Baylor.

Down 29-14 going into the 4th quarter, UC outscored the Bears 15-3 in the final stanza but couldn't complete the comeback. Baylor improves to 3-4 (2-2 Big 12).

Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen had 316 yards passing on a 25-for-42 day with one touchdown. He hit Ketron Jackson Jr. five times for 130 yards.

UC had two 100-plus yard rushers in the loss as Corey Kiner had 129 and Myles Montgomery had 108 while scoring two touchdowns. Xzavier Henderson, after not catching a pass against Iowa State, had eight catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

UC led in total offense 450-396 and outrushed the Bears 288-80.

Mistakes prove costly once again

As they have done lately, UC had some early misfortune that either cost them points or turned into points for the opposition. On their opening drive, the Bearcats drove to the Baylor 20-yard line but quarterback Emory Jones fumbled the snap and a chance at scoring first was foiled.

The Bearcats would take a 7-3 lead in the second quarter on a Jones toss to Henderson. But just like the previous week's 7-3 second-quarter lead vs. Iowa State, Baylor jumped back out front on a touchdown by quarterback Shapen and a muffed kickoff return by Braden Smith. Smith fielded the kick with Baylor's Jeremy Evans forcing the fumble that popped into the hands of the Bears' Byron Vaughns who ran it in for a touchdown and a quick 14-point turnaround.

Baylor tacked on a field goal and UC would close the gap before halftime with a 38-yard touchdown from Montgomery. UC would get the ball back with 1:09 remaining in the half for a possible go-ahead score but went minus-4 yards on the possession and had to punt the ball back. The half ended with the Bearcats trailing 20-14.

Fourth down gamble comes up short

Midway through the third quarter, the Bearcats would advance as far as the Baylor 15-yard line but elected to go for it on 4th-and-3 instead of opting for a field goal. Baylor stopped the Bearcats and took over on downs.

The Bears would hold UC scoreless in the third quarter and expand their lead to 29-14. However, to start the fourth quarter, Montgomery added his second touchdown to cut the deficit to eight.

The fourth field goal by Isaiah Hankins made it 32-21 Baylor, but UC rallied with Jones hitting Henderson a second time, then Evan Prater on a trick two-point conversion and the Bearcats trailed 32-29 with five minutes in the ballgame.

The Bearcats would get the ball one last time and drive to their own 42-yard line but the Bears defense made the stops and the Bearcats lost their fifth straight.

UC (2-5, 0-4 Big 12) is at Oklahoma State next Saturday night at 8 p.m.

UC ball with 2:19 left on their own 7-yard line | Baylor 32, Cincinnati 29

Just 93 yards to go in just over two minutes. Strap it in.

UC within 3 with 5:03 to go | Baylor 32, Cincinnati 29

Emory Jones goes 29 yards to Xzavier Henderson for his second score. Jones then hits Evan Prater on the 2-point and the Bearcats are down by a field goal.

7:01 remaining, Baylor knocks in another field goal | Baylor 32, Cincinnati 21

Isaiah Hankins continues his bid for Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week with his fourth field goal. This one is from 43 yards. UC in "7-11" territory. They have seven minutes to score 11 for the tie.

Bearcats start fourth with score cutting Baylor lead to 8 | Baylor 29, Cincinnati 21

UC's drive was 12 plays 62 yards in 5:32. Myles Montgomery adds his second touchdown of the game. UC down by eight. Kiner 129 yards rushing, Montgomery with 68 and the two scores.

End third quarter as UC has ball on Baylor 4-yard line | Baylor 29, Cincinnati 14

UC can get within a score here. Attendance was announced as 38,193. That's a tickets sold figure.

UC doesn't respond, Baylor lead goes to 15 | Baylor 29, Cincinnati 14

UC drove to the Baylor 15-yard line but on 4th-and-3 they bypassed a field goal attempt. Emory Jones tried to pass to Payten Singletary and it was incomplete. Baylor then goes 56 yards in 4:34 with Isaiah Hankins hitting his third field goal of the game, this one from 46 yards, to lead 29-14.

Baylor quickly expands lead | Baylor 26, Cincinnati 14

The Bears go on a six-play 75-yard scoring drive in the first 2:47 of the second half. Blake Shapen hit Ketron Jackson Jr. on a 55-yard pass, that eventually led to a six-yard scoring pass from Shapen to Jake Roberts. 12:17 remains in the third quarter.

Halftime numbers | Baylor 20, Cincinnati 14

A similar song as UC leads Baylor in total offense 218-187, in rushing yards 164-28 and time of possession 17:32-12:28. Corey Kiner leads all rushers with 82 yards, Myles Montgomery has 67 and a touchdown. Emory Jones is 9-for-13 passing for 54 yards with one score to Xzavier Henderson who has four catches for 35 yards. Nathan Hawks has handled kickoffs today for those scoring at home.

For Baylor, Blake Shapen is the top rusher with 17 yards and is 13-for-24 for 159 yards passing. He's been sacked once. Isaiah Hankins has field goals of 54 and 43 yards. The difference in the game is the fumbled kickoff by Braden Smith that popped into the hands of Byron Vaughns that gave Baylor a two-score lead in the second quarter.

Second quarter ends with the Bearcats down six | Baylor 20, Cincinnati 14 at halftime

UC got the ball back with 1:09 remaining and completed two passes but went backward -4 yards before punting away to the Bears. Baylor took some shots but the half ends with the Bears up 20-14.

UC gets a much-needed score from Myles Montgomery 5:59 second quarter | Baylor 20, Cincinnati 14

The Bearcats respond with a four-play 75-yard drive with 38 of those coming on the touchdown run by Myles Montgomery. That's his first of the season, second of his career.

Baylor chalks up another field goal. 17 unanswered points. 7:18 second quarter | Baylor 20, Cincinnati 7

The Bears go 47 yards but the UC defense holds Baylor to an Isaiah Hankins 43-yard field goal.

Seven seconds after score, Baylor recovers kickoff to UC and scores again | Baylor 17, Cincinnati 7

Braden Smith fumbles the kickoff which goes right into the hands of Byron Vaughns for another touchdown. Baylor then stops UC on their next series.

UC's lead is short as Baylor goes 75 yards for a score 12:16, second quarter | Baylor 10, Cincinnati 7

After UC had a 14-play 75-yard drive in 6:00, Baylor turns around and goes 75 in 2:39 with 41 of those coming on a pass to Ketron Jackson Jr. Quarterback Blake Shapen runs in for a 3-yard score and Baylor leads 10-7.

Jones to Henderson on first play of the second quarter. Bearcats lead | Cincinnati 7, Baylor 3

Xzavier Henderson catches a four-yard pass from Emory Jones as UC takes the lead. Henderson did not register a catch against Iowa State. Corey Kiner now has 64 yards on the ground.

First quarter ends with UC near goal line. 2nd and goal from 4-yard line | Baylor 3, Cincinnati 0

UC has the ball on the 4-yard line after a Corey Kiner rush took them to the 8, then an Emory Jones rush advanced four yards. Obviously, a crucial four yards ahead.

Baylor up first, but on a field goal | Baylor 3, Cincinnati 0

Baylor got a 40-yard punt return by Josh Cameron to get into UC territory. The Bearcat defense held them to -3 yards on four plays but Isaiah Hankins drilled a 54-yard field goal to get the Bears on the board first.

10:42 first quarter, UC's first drive falls short | Cincinnati 0, Baylor 0

UC drove to the Baylor 20-yard line but Emory Jones fumbled the 4th-and-1 snap and Baylor takes over. UC did convert one fourth down on the drive and Corey Kiner had a long rush of 38 yards. UC stopped Baylor on their first drive and now have the ball again with 9:38 left in the opening quarter.

Big-time basketball recruit is here

Four-star Travis Perry from Lyon County High in Kentucky is here. Dude can light it up from outside. He is sitting with UC coaches.

The preview

It's another noon kickoff for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and again they face a new Big 12 foe in the Baylor Bears. Both teams are at 2-4 and trying to stay afloat in the conference.

Bowl possibilities exist, but both teams would need a late-season run to qualify. Baylor has lost four of five home games which doesn't sit well with Bears fans in Waco, Texas. UC has dropped three straight at formerly friendly Nippert Stadium for the first time since Luke Fickell's inaugural campaign in 2017.

In the "things can only get better" department, it should be noted Fickell's 'Cats lost four straight at Nippert and it would have been five had Connecticut not missed an extra point to end the game and give the now-Wisconsin coach a 4-8 opening season record in a conference (AAC) not as demanding as the Big 12.

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Cincinnati Bearcats betting favorites

The Cincinnati Bearcats are 3-point favorites against the Baylor Bears and the over/under point total is set at 50.5, according to BetMGM. The Bearcats are 2-4 against the spread this year and the Bears are 1-4-1.

Key numbers

UC's offense is ranked No. 31 in the NCAA in total offense and No. 16 in rushing compared to Baylor at No. 60 and No. 103 on the ground. Blake Shapen's pass game in No. 33 in the country. He's not been interested yet, but was sacked six times in his last game vs. Texas Tech. He suffered an MCL injury earlier in the year.

Baylor actually helped UC in 2021

Dave Aranda's Bears were No. 5 in the country at 12-2 and Sugar Bowl champion. Their win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship paved the way for UC to jump to No. 4 in the rankings and get o the College Football Playoff Semifinal vs. Alabama in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats lose Big 12 matchup to Baylor Bears | Replay