Illinois Thumps Baylor Bears in Texas Bowl

Filed under: Baylor, Illinois, Big 10, Big 12, Bowl Games

HOUSTON -- The Baylor Bears waited 16 years between bowl appearances and Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure may have made them wish the wait was just a little bit longer Wednesday night.

The Illini star back ran through and around the Bears to lift Illinois to a 38-14 win over Baylor during the Texas Bowl in front of 68,211 at Reliant Stadium. Leshoure scored three rushing touchdowns on the night, his last a 5-yard scamper with 7:14 remaining that slammed the door on a Baylor comeback.

Leshoure also scored on touchdown runs of 5 and 13 yards earlier in the game as Illinois running game seemed to leave Baylor flat-footed most of the night.

But still, after a horrible first-half performance, the Bears offense came to life in the second half behind quarterback Robert Griffin to pull within 10 points early in the fourth quarter after trailing by 24-0 to begin the third quarter. Running back Jay Finley scored on a 4-yard touchdown and then Griffin connected with receiver Kendall Wright for a 39-yard touchdown pass play that pulled Baylor within 24-14.

But after getting a few defensive stops in the second half, the Bears defense finally caved as Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase led the Illini on an impressive drive that was capped by Leshoure's 5-yard touchdown run that made 31-14. Scheelhaase, who completed his first 13 passes of the game, scored the final touchdown on a 55-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds remaining.

Daniella Alonso Gina Gershon Ehrinn Cummings Sienna Miller Cindy Taylor