BAYLOR (2-0) vs. GONZAGA (2-0)
Nov. 15, 2006
2006 NIT Season Tip-Off - West Region championship
Spokane Arena - Spokane, Wash.
complete NIT Season Tip-Off notes
With an 87-82 double-overtime win over Colorado State Tuesday, Baylor advanced to the West Region championship game of the 2006 NIT Season Tip-Off and will face Gonzaga Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 9:30 p.m. CST on a game televised live nationally on ESPN2.
The Bears (2-0) face the hometown Bulldogs (2-0) at the neutral-site Spokane Arena, but will face a decidedly pro-Gonzaga crowd in the region finale. The Zags defeated Rice xx-xx in an opening-round game Tuesday night.
The winner of Wednesday's championship game will advance to the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinal and championship double-header in New York's Madison Square Garden Nov. 22 and 24. The Baylor-Gonzaga winner will face the East Region champion, to be decided Wednesday between North Carolina and Winthrop (ESPN, 6 p.m. CST).
BAYLOR NOTES AFTER NIT OPENING-ROUND WIN OVER COLORADO STATE
- Henry Dugat totaled career highs of 29 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 45 minutes in leading Baylor to win over CSU.
- Baylor won its first away game since Dec. 30, 2004 - a 73-72 upset at Purdue.
- Baylor sealed Tuesday's win by hitting 21-of-22 free throws to end the game - including the final 15 straight during the two overtime periods.
- Aaron Bruce was a perfect 7-for-7 on free throws in the first overtime.
- Curtis Jerrells totaled career highs of 7 rebounds, 8 free throws, 3 steals and 44 minutes played.
- Mamadou Diene had 4 blocks, extending his blocks streak to 18 games - every game of his young career (14 multi-blocks games).
- Baylor's 28 free throws made (35 att.) was its highest since hitting 33 (44 att.) Feb. 7, 2004 in a 72-64 win over Texas A&M.
- True freshman Tweety Carter, in his second career game, scored a career-high 9 points.
- Baylor is 2-0 for the first time under head coach Scott Drew (4 seasons), the Bears last started 2-0 in 2002-03 (4-0 start).
- Underclassmen have led BU in scoring in 42 of its last 47 games (dating to 2004-05) [in 28 of last 47 a freshman has been top scorer].
- Baylor is 17-3 when scoring 70+ points (in Drew Era; 4 seasons).
- Over the past six seasons Baylor is 56-5 when totaling an equal or higher shooting percentage than its opponent (2-0 in 2006-07).
- Baylor teams have made at least one 3-point basket in 425 straight games.
BAYLOR-GONZAGA SERIES
The Bears and Bulldogs have met once previously, an 87-57 Gonzaga victory in the 1991 Fresno State Classic in Fresno, Calif. (11-29-91). Scott Drew has never coached against the Zags. Baylor is 3-4 all-time vs. teams currently in the West Coast Conference.
