COLUMBIA, Mo., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Kirk Farmer threw for a season-high 360 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to lift Missouri to a 41-24 victory over Baylor.
Farmer, who completed 23 of 34 passes, tossed a 26-yard strike to running back Zain Gilmore for the deciding touchdown with 6:33 to play in the first half.
Gilmore followed with a three-yard touchdown run six minutes later to give Missouri (4-5, 3-4 Big 12) a 34-3 halftime lead.
Baylor (2-7, 0-7) tried to rally in the second half as quarterback Greg Cicero and wide receiver Reggie Newhouse combined for three touchdowns.
Two posessions after Baylor cut the deficit to 34-17, defensive back Antoine Duncan intercepted Cicero's pass on the Baylor 31. Farmer tossed his third touchdown on the next play, a 31-yarder to Justin Gage that stretched Missouri's advantage to 41-17 with 5:55 to play in the third quarter.
Cicero completed 25 of 35 passes for 231 yards, but was sacked twice and threw an interception.
Newhouse had a 38-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter and a pair of 11-yard scores in the final period.
Missouri took a 7-0 lead 3:34 into the game when tailback T.J. Leon capped a 72-yard opening drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The Bears answered with a 38-yard field goal by Adam Stiles on the next posession.
Three plays after the Tigers recovered a fumble by Newhouse on a punt return, Gage scored on a nine-yard reception to make it 14-3 with 3:58 remaining in the first quarter.
Missouri used some razzle-dazzle for its next score as Gage tossed a nine-yard strike to Ben Fredrickson to give the Tigers a 20-3 lead five seconds into the second period.
Baylor has dropped its last 28 conference games. The Bears have not won a Big 12 contest since Oct. 10, 1998 when they posted a 31-24 victory over Kansas.
