Al Freeman scored 16 points and Baylor pulled away in the second half to earn a 76-61 victory over Oral Roberts in the season opener for both teams.

The Bears, picked fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll, never trailed but never quite put the visitors away either. Baylor led by seven at halftime, and was up by double digits most of the way, but turnovers and missed free throws helped keep the starters in most of the way. It did most of its damage from beyond the arc with 10 three-pointers. Freeman, the leading returning scorer on the Bears, made three of his four three-point attempts.

Point guard Manu Lecomte, the preseason pick as Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after transferring in from Miami (Fla.), just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine assists. He scored Baylor's first five points to give the team a lead it would never relinquish.

Forward Ishmmail Wainwright, the only senior on Baylor's roster, added 11 points and five rebounds.

Forward Emmanuel Nzekwesi had 15 points to lead ORU. Leading returning scorer Albert Owens was held to eight.

The game marked a reunion of sorts for Owens and Baylor forward Terry Maston, who played on the same team in junior high school.

Baylor has now won its last 11 season openers. The last time it dropped its first game was in the 2005-06 season, when it had no nonconference games because of NCAA sanctions and opened the season at Texas Tech.

Baylor led by as many as 14 points in the first half and took a 38-31 lead into the break.