Freshman Perry Jones stood out again during No. 17 Baylor's final game before the return of its leading scorer from last season.
Jones had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Bears, who had a sporadic performance but remained undefeated after a 63-49 victory over Jackson State on Thursday night.
''He's unbelievable. Just unbelievable,'' Jackson State coach Tevester Anderson said of Perry.
The 6-foot-11 Perry, one of the nation's top incoming freshmen, was 9-of-13 shooting and has scored in double figures in each of his first three college games. He scored nine straight points early and had 15 by halftime.
''He's a great player, even as a freshman,'' Baylor guard A.J. Walton said. ''He's growing up quickly. I love playing with him.''
Fred Ellis hit a 3-pointer on the game's first shot and the Bears (3-0) never trailed. But they had 26 turnovers in their last game before suspended guard LaceDarius Dunn returns.
Baylor suspended Dunn for the first three games after his arrest last month for a domestic dispute charge involving his girlfriend. The woman, the mother of Dunn's 3-year-old son, has disputed police accounts, saying Dunn didn't hit her and her jaw wasn't broken. She has asked that all charges be dropped.
Dunn, who has continued to practice with the team, is eligible to play Monday night against Lipscomb. He was the top returning starter from last season's team that set a school record with 28 wins and made it to the NCAA round of eight.
Rod Melvin had 22 points, including six 3-pointers, and was the only player in double figures for Jackson State (0-3).
Baylor improved to 37-0 against Southwestern Athletic Conference teams. The Bears had won 15 of the previous games by at least 30 points and had averaged 101 points in three previous games against Jackson State.
Walton added 14 points, five assists and four steals for Baylor, but had six turnovers. Jones also had three steals that were offset by four giveaways.
Quincy Acy, who averaged 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds the first two games, had eight points, six rebounds and four turnovers.
After Walton hit a 3-pointer with 15:13 left for a 41-29 lead, the Bears went 11 minutes without making a basket. They had eight turnovers and missed four shots in that span, but their lead was only trimmed by one because of free throws.
When Ellis made a layup with 4:13 left to end the field-goal drought, then completed the three-point play with a free throw, the Bears still had a 54-43 lead.
''I voted this team in the top 10. I think they're a top 10 team. They've got a lot of weapons out there,'' Anderson said. ''I just like the way they play. I like the way they shoot the ball, and they play defense, too. That zone they play is as good as anyone's.''
The Tigers shot 41 percent (18 of 44) from the field and had 20 turnovers.
Jackson State, playing the third of seven straight road games to open the season, was coming off an 80-39 loss at Central Florida on Monday and had shot only 29 percent its first two games.
Baylor made 13 of 19 shots (68 percent) and had a 16-2 rebounding edge at halftime, but only had a 34-26 lead after 16 turnovers.
The Bears, playing their first seven games at home, finished shooting 53 percent (18 of 34) and made 23 of 25 free throws.
Walton said the Bears have a free throw club at practice that nobody wants to be part of - so all of them are trying to get better.
''If you are shooting under 75 percent, you've got to make 10 free throws before you leave the gym after practice,'' said Walton, who was 6-of-6 from the line Thursday.
Jones had 15 points by halftime, including nine straight to push the Bears to an early 12-5 lead, but they also had a five-possession stretch that included four turnovers.
