BAYLOR (0-1, 0-1) vs. OKLAHOMA STATE (11-5, 1-1)
Jan. 14, 2006 - Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas) - 3:00 p.m. CST

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RADIO: Baylor Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: ESPN+Plus complete TV listings
INTERNET VIDEO: none
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THE GAME
Baylor plays it home opener Saturday, Jan. 14, when it hosts Oklahoma State at the Ferrell Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST and the game will be televised live via ESPN+Plus syndicated stations (KCEN NBC6 in Waco/Temple/Bryan). After enduring three months of practice without playing (due to NCAA sanctions banning non-conference games), Baylor (0-1, 0-1) opened its season last Saturday with a 79-61 loss at Texas Tech. The young Bears, with six freshmen, have lost 15 straight games dating back to last season. Oklahoma State (11-5, 1-1) is coming off a 79-77 win over Texas A&M last Saturday at home. Baylor has dropped seven straight games to the Cowboys in Waco. Baylor is celebrating its 100th season of basketball in 2005-06.

BAYLOR TIP-INS
- Baylor has dropped 15 of 16 games to OSU, including four straight.
- Baylor's freshmen accounted for 49% of the team's minutes in the opening game and combined for 50% of the rebounding and 34% of the scoring.
- Through 1 game, Aaron Bruce leads the Big 12 in 3-point % (.571), 3-pointers made (4.0) and asst-TO% (6.0) and is second in scoring (20.0) and third in assists (6.0).
- Baylor's 1.38 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 1st in the Big 12.
- Tim Bush leads the Big 12, averaging 3.0 steals per game.
- Baylor has lost 15 straight games (dating to last season), its longest losing steak since dropping 17 straight to close the 1998-99 season.
- Aaron Bruce (83.1%) & Tim Bush (82.4%) are in the Big 12's Top 11 career free throw list.
- For the 3rd straight season BU is playing without its full allotment of scholarships (12 available, 10 filled).
- Underclassmen have led BU in scoring in 27 of its last 29 games (dating to last year).
- Baylor's roster includes 6 freshmen, more than any other Big 12 team.
- 114 of Kevis Shipman's 134 career points (85%) are from 3-pointers (38).
- Baylor is 11-1 when scoring 70+ points (in Drew Era; 3 seasons).
- Aaron Bruce has made a 3-pointer in 26 straight games dating to last season (2nd-longest streak in school history - Tevis Stukes hit a 3 in all 29 games of 1999-2000).
- BU is 1-30 when allowing opponents to shoot 50% or higher (in 3 years under Drew).
- Over the past five seasons Baylor is 51-3 when totaling an equal or higher shooting percentage than its opponent (8-0 last season).
- Baylor teams have made at least one 3-point basket in 407 straight games.
- Baylor will play a minimum of 17 games this season. The last time BU played fewer than 21 games was 1944-45 (0-17).
- Baylor's 4 returning starters is the school's most in 9 seasons (`96-97, 18-12 record).

HEAD COACH Scott Drew
Scott Drew is in his third season of the massive rebuilding project he undertook at Baylor and owns a three-year mark of 17-41 and a career record of 37-52 (four seasons). Drew spent 10 seasons at Valparaiso, the last as head coach after nine seasons as an assistant to his father Homer. During his decade at Valpo, the Crusaders earned six NCAA Tournament berths, including five straight from 1996-2000. An outstanding recruiter, Drew is responsible for four national Top-20 recruiting classes over the last seven years (No. 17 in 2005 and No. 10 in 2004 at Baylor; No. 6 in 2001 and No. 13 in 1999 at Valpo). He was named the 1998-99 National Recruiter of the Year by Court Vision.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
Oklahoma State (11-5, 1-1) is led by Eddie Sutton, in his 16th year at OSU and his 36th year as a collegiate head coach. Sutton owns a career record of 792-304 with stints at Creighton, Arkansas and Kentucky prior to OSU; he is 362-140 with the Cowboys. Sutton is currently fourth in career victories among active Division I head coaches.

OSU NOTES: The Cowboys are led by junior F/C Marrio Boggan, who averages 14.2 points and 5.2 rebounds... OSU is the top shooting team in the conference, with a 52.0% field goal percentage and 39.0% 3-point field goal percentage... The Cowboys have a 3-4 record away from home this season.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE SERIES
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with Baylor by a 43-12 margin. The Cowboys have won 15 of the last 16 meetings, including four straight. Baylor trails 14-9 in games played in Waco and has lost seven straight to OSU at the Ferrell Center.

MORE BRUCE ALMIGHTY
The Bears continue to be led by sophomore guard Aaron Bruce, coming off a sensational rookie year in which he led the nation's freshmen in scoring and earned All-Big 12 and Freshman All-American accolades. Through one game Bruce, an All-America and Big 12 Player of the Year candidate, is second in the Big 12 in scoring (20.0 ppg), third in assists (6.0 apg), first in 3-point percentage (57.1%), first in 3-pointers made (4.0 3pg) and first in assist-to-turnover ratio (6.0).

BAYLOR LED BY ITS CUBS
Baylor's five-man freshman class (Mamadou Diene, Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells, Kevin Rogers and Jari Vanttaja) has made an immediate impact on this year's team. In Baylor's opener, the freshmen combined for 34 percent of the team's points, 50 percent of the rebounds, 36 percent of the assists and 49 percent of the minutes played.

A SHORT STICK
For the third straight year, Baylor enters the season without its full allotment of scholarships. The Bears have 12 available scholarships (only 10 filled). During head coach Scott Drew's first two seasons, Baylor dressed seven or fewer scholarship players in every game.

WINLESS STREAK
The Bears have lost 15 straight games dating back to the 2004-05 season, the school's longest losing streak since the 1998-99 Baylor squad lost its final 17 games (finished 0-16 in Big 12, Harry Miller's final season).

HALF A SEASON
Due to NCAA sanctions brought on by the previous coaching staff, Baylor did not play any regular-season non-conference games this season (unprecedented in modern-day college basketball). Baylor will play a minimum of 17 games this season (16-game Big 12 schedule plus at least one game in Big 12 Championship). The last time the Bears played fewer than 21 games in a season was 1944-45, when Baylor finished 0-17. [NOTE: Baylor is eligible for postseason play]

THE LAST MEETING: No. 10 OKLAHOMA ST. 81 - BAYLOR 63 [Feb. 5, 2005]
A record-setting 33 points from freshman sensation Aaron Bruce was not enough for the undermanned Bears as No. 10 Oklahoma State ran away with an 81-63 victory at the Ferrell Center. Bruce set a new Baylor freshman single-game scoring mark (topping former Bear and current Mississippi State All-American Lawrence Roberts' 30 in 2001-02) and his 33 points is the highest total by a Big 12 player this season. Baylor led 9-5 after Bruce drove through a crowded lane for a layup and then made a free throw. But the Bears then went 10 minutes without a field goal - missing 10 straight - and were outscored 22-3 and trailed 27-12. The Cowboys shot 74 percent (17-of-23) in the first half, including 9-of-12 on 3-pointers. Even after missing their first nine shots after halftime, they had a 20-point lead and still went on to shoot 57 percent overall (28-of-49) and from 3-point range (12-of-21). Oklahoma State had a 65-34 lead after Joey Graham made two free throws with 11:14 left. But Baylor finished with a 29-16 run in which Bruce scored 22 of his 33 points. John Lucas III, who played two seasons at Baylor, scored 11 first-half points and finished with 14.

LAST TIME OUT: TEXAS TECH 79 - BAYLOR 61
After an unprecedented ban on non-conference games due to NCAA sanctions brought on by its previous coaching staff, Baylor opened its season Jan. 11, with a 79-61 loss at Texas Tech in the United Spirit Arena. The Bears made an impressive start, hitting five of their first six shots, including two 3-pointers by Aaron Bruce, to take a 20-17 lead through the first 11 minutes. Tech used a 20-4 run over the remainder of the half to take control. Tech built a 17-point lead twice in the second half. Baylor used an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 51-43 with 10 minutes to go, but the Red Raiders answered quickly, using an 11-2 run to go up 62-45 with 6:52 remaining. Tech outrebounded the Bears 45-26 and Baylor got only eight second-chance points. The Bears were 23-of-60 from the field. Tech took advantage of its conditioning edge by dominating inside. The Red Raiders outrebounded Baylor, 45-26, including 15 in offensive boards. They also had a 40-26 edge in points in the paint. Bruce, the nation's top scoring freshman last season, scored 20 points and Tim Bush added 12.

PRESEASON HONORS
Aaron Bruce is rated the eighth-best point guard nationally by CBSSportsline.com and No. 12 in Lindy's preseason publication and is also honored with the league's "Best Instincts" by Street & Smith's magazine. The sophomore was also projected an All-Big 12 honoree by Lindy's and Athlon. Baylor freshman Kevin Rogers was named the Big 12's "No. 1 Signing Coup" by Lindy's and Rivals, as well as being tabbed a "Top 100 College Freshman by Street & Smith's.

VERY YOUNG CUBS
Baylor has six freshmen on its roster (5 true, 1 redshirt), the school's highest such total in 28 years (7 frosh on '78-79 squad) and the most of any Big 12 team. Baylor's roster boasts two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and six freshmen.

BEARS RETURN RARE EXPERIENCE
Baylor returns four starters (Aaron Bruce, Tim Bush, Richard Hurd and Tommy Swanson) and seven lettermen (four starters plus Patrick Fields, Mark Shepherd and Kevis Shipman) from last year's young and inexperienced squad that finished 9-19. The four returning starters is the highest total for a Bear team since 1996-1997, when head coach Harry Miller returned four starters from a 9-18 squad and finished 18-12 in the first season of the Big 12 Conference. The 2005-2006 Bears return 93 percent of last season's scoring and 90 percent of their rebounding.

BEARS REACH NEW HEIGHTS... LITERALLY
Unlike last season when Baylor's roster had a noticeable lack of height - with only two players taller than 6-6 (one a walk-on) - the 2005-2006 roster boasts five such players: Kevin Rogers (6-9), Mark Shepherd (6-9), Tommy Swanson (6-10), Jari Vanttaja (6-10) and Mamadou Diene (7-0).

SWANSON'S SENIOR EXPERIENCE A RARITY
Fourth-year senior Tommy Swanson entered the season as not only the most experienced member of the Bear squad - he's also a rare veteran in BU's recent basketball history. Swanson was just the second BU player in the last six years to enter his senior season with more than 60 career games played as a Bear (73 prior to season); former teammate Matt Sayman had 89 entering senior year.

INTERNATIONAL ROSTER
Baylor's 13-man 2005-2006 roster boasts 10 Americans and three players from overseas. The three, all signed by Scott Drew in the last two years, include sophomore Aaron Bruce (native of Australia), redshirt freshman Mamadou Diene (native of Senegal) and freshman Jari Vanttaja (native of Finland).

DEPARTED PLAYERS
Baylor lost four lettermen from it's 2004-05 roster: three walk-on guards (freshman Hall Henderson, sophomore Turner Phipps and senior Ryan Pryor) and sophomore guard Roscoe Biggers.

PLENTY OF NEWCOMERS
Baylor's 2005-2006 roster lists five newcomers and a redshirt who has yet to dress for a game. The six rookies include five true freshmen [Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells, Kevin Rogers, Carl Sims and Jari Vanttaja] and one redshirt freshman [Mamadou Diene].

RECRUITING CLASS RATED 11th NATIONALLY
Baylor's 2005 signee class was rated the nation's 11th-best class by Rivals and No. 17 according to HoopScoop. The class includes three national Top-100 freshmen and a top international signee. The signees include four prep seniors, Henry Dugat of Dayton (Texas) High School, Curtis Jerrells of Del Valle High School in Austin, Texas and Kevin Rogers of South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas; as well as Jari Vanttaja of Oulu, Finland.

100th SEASON OF BASKETBALL
The 2005-2006 season marks the 100th season of collegiate basketball at Baylor. Baylor's Centennial, which is presented by H-E-B, will be celebrated by a season-long series of events, culminating with a basketball lettermen reunion the weekend of Feb. 24-25. The highlight of the weekend's events will be the announcing and honoring of the 15-man Baylor All-Centennial Team during the Bears home game vs. Iowa State Saturday, Feb. 25. Baylor basketball officially began in 1906-07 with a seven-man squad that won its first two games and finished 5-6. The Bears' storied history includes Final Four appearances in 1948 and 1950, a national runner-up finish in 1948, five conference championships as well as the heroic tragedy of the 1927 Immortal Ten team.

ALL-CENTENNIAL TEAM
Baylor's season-long series of Centennial events is highlighted by the selection of an All-Centennial Team. The team, selected by a combined fan vote and expert panel, will represent the 15 greatest players in Baylor basketball history. Baylor fans can vote online at www.BaylorBears.com and at Central Texas H-E-B stores. Additionally, ballots will be published in the Waco Tribune-Herald and available at Ferrell Center voting booths during Baylor's men's games. Voting will conclude Feb. 1 and the team will be unveiled and honored during the Bears home game vs. Iowa State Saturday, Feb. 25.

BIG 12 10th ANNIVERSARY VOTING NOW OPEN
The Big 12 is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season and is selecting special teams to honor the top players in the first nine years of the conference. Followers of the Big 12 can vote for the top five men's basketball players in league annals by visiting the conference web site at www.big12sports.com/10th-anniversary/. Winners will be announced live on the ESPN Plus Studio 66 halftime show in early February.

BAYLOR'S EARLY SIGNING CLASS RATED 21st NATIONALLY
Baylor's two-man early signing class was rated 21st nationally by Rivals.com, the second-highest national ranking for a class of two or fewer players. The signees include two consensus Top 100 recruits, guard Demond "Tweety" Carter and center Josh Lomers. Carter, a 5-10 point guard for Reserve Christian from LaPlace, La., is one of the most prolific scorers in high school basketball history. His national rankings include No. 45 HoopScoop, No. 47 CSTV.com, No. 61 Rivals.com, No. 82 Hoopmasters and No. 87 Scout.com. Carter is rated a Top-10 point guard recruit nationally by both Rivals.com and Hoopmasters. Carter, whose nickname is "Tweety," has scored more than 6,000 career points and been a varsity starter since the seventh grade. He is a four-time all-state selection and has led Reserve Christian to three state championships, including the school's first-ever title in 2002 as an eighth grader when he was honored as the tournament MVP. Lomers is rated the No. 6 center nationally by Rivals.com. Overall he is rated nationally by CSTV.com (No. 39), Rivals.com (No. 43), Hoopmasters (No. 64), and Scout.com (No. 88). Lomers is also the third-rated recruit in Texas according to Rivals.com. A 7-foot, 1-inch center, Lomers plays for Boerne (Texas) High School and was named to the 2005 TABC 4A All-State team as a junior last season after averaging 22 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7 blocks per game at Boerne.

BAYLOR EARLY SIGNEES:Name                    Pos.    Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (Schools)Demond "Tweety" Carter  G   5-10    170 Fr. LaPlace, La. (Reserve Christian School)Josh Lomers C   7-1 250 Fr. Boerne, Texas (Boerne HS)

FERRELL CENTER'S 18th YEAR
The Bears are in their 18th season in the beautiful Ferrell Center this year. Baylor finished 8-9 at home in 2004-05 and owns a 150-109 all-time record in the arena, which opened in November 1988. The Ferrell Center is a golden-domed structure that seats 10,284 for basketball games.

INSIDE BAYLOR SPORTS TV SHOW
Inside Baylor Sports, a half-hour wrap-up of Baylor athletics, airs weekly throughout the Southwest. The program, co-hosted by John Morris and Lori Scott-Fogleman, airs on KCEN-TV (Sundays at 10:30 p.m.), FSN Southwest (Wednesdays at 1 p.m) and CSTV. All shows are archived online at BaylorBears.com and BaylorTV.com.

NEXT UP...
Baylor travels to Boulder, Colo. for a matchup vs. Colorado Wednesday, Jan. 18. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST at the Coors Events Center.