After winning each of its first eight games by at least 10 points, Baylor showed that it can come through when the game is on the line.
There's little chance the team will need more late-game heroics with Paul Quinn, an NAIA team, making its second visit to the Ferrell Center.
The sixth-ranked Bears will try to extend their best start in 11 years on Monday night when they go for their 27th consecutive non-conference home win.
With an average margin of victory of 23.0 points during its 8-0 start, Baylor (9-0) did not face its first serious test until Saturday, when it defeated BYU 86-83 in Provo, Utah. Down by as many as 13 points in the first half, the Bears kept their perfect record intact as Perry Jones III scored 16 of his career-best 28 points after halftime.
The sophomore was helped off the court with 1:26 left after knocking knees, but he returned and scored on a putback with 20 seconds remaining to provide the final margin.
"Some players come back after an injury and they limp around," coach Scott Drew said of Jones, who is averaging 18.8 points with 6.0 rebounds in four games following a five-game suspension for accepting improper benefits prior to arriving at Baylor. "He showed his toughness."
Pierre Jackson showed his athleticism as the 5-foot-10 point guard blocked a 3-point attempt by Brandon Davies, a 6-foot-9 forward, as time expired to help Baylor become just the second non-conference visitor in 50 games to beat BYU in Provo.
"That's why we wanted to come up here," said Drew, whose team is off to its best start since opening 12-0 in 2000-01. "We walked out a better team knowing more about ourselves in doing so."
It doesn't appear that the Bears will be tested in this matchup as Paul Quinn (2-7) arrives in Waco following losses to Our Lady of the Lake and Rogers State.
In the first matchup between these teams, Baylor won 108-50 on Nov. 15, 2008.
This contest could turn into a similar rout as the Bears have one of the nation's top frontcourts in Jones, senior Quincy Acy and freshman Quincy Miller, while the Tigers' tallest player is 6-foot-6 forward Tori Green.
However, the Bears will have to keep an eye on Paul Quinn leading scorer Nafis Richardson, who is averaging 21.6 points after scoring 27 in Wednesday's 81-65 loss to Rogers State.
In the Tigers' only game against a Division I team this season, Richardson, a senior guard, had nine points while freshman guard Reginald Hill hit six 3s and scored 22 in a 66-54 loss at Sam Houston State on Dec. 1.
Baylor has won its seven home games this season by an average of 22.3 points.
