The Baylor Bears defeated the University of Texas Longhorns in overtime to open Big 12 play in Waco, Texas on Saturday, 86-79.
The Bears were without head coach Scott Drew who was serving the first game of a school-imposed two conference game suspension related to impermissible calls and text messages. Coach Jerome Tang filled in as interim coach, and it was his first game as a NCAA Division I head coach.
The game was back and forth for much of the first half until the Bears went on an 11-0 run beginning at 2:58 to take a 40-31 lead to the break.
The Longhorns went on a 17-8 run of their own to start the second half, and the game was tied at 48-48 with 11:34 to go. Baylor's first field goal of the second half did not come until 26 seconds later when Brady Heslip hit a 3-pointer.
The game was neck and neck until just over 1:20 to go in overtime when Baylor held Texas scoreless and made eight of its last 11 free throw attempts.
The Bears finished the game shooting only 35.9 percent from the floor and 4-17 from behind the arc. Baylor had 19 offensive rebounds and 13 turnovers. Junior forward Cory Jefferson led the Bears with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Senior point guard Pierre Jackson added 24 points and six assists while freshman forward Isaiah Austin contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Texas shot 44.6 percent from the floor and was 4-12 from three-point range. Freshman point guard Jevan Felix had a huge Big 12 debut with 26 points, nine assists and only one turnover. The only other Longhorn in double figures was Sheldon McClellan, who added 21 points.
The largest discrepancy between the two teams was the foul trouble and trips to the free throw line. Texas has struggled to get to the line much of the season, and today was no different. The Longhorns shot only 14 free throws, making nine free throws. They also committed 26 personal fouls compared to Baylor's 12 personal fouls. The Bears were 36-45 from the line.
Baylor's next game is against Texas Tech on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. (ET). Texas will face Big 12 newcomer West Virginia on Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. (ET).
For more information, visit www.NCAA.com.
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