BAYLOR (5-1) vs. TEXAS STATE (2-4)
Dec. 2, 2006 - Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas) - 3:00 p.m. CST

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RADIO: Baylor-ISP Sports Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco / Sirius Satellite ch. 161)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: none
INTERNET VIDEO: live video stream at BaylorBears.com
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THE GAME
Baylor plays its third game in six days Saturday, Dec. 2, when the Bears host Texas State. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST at the Ferrell Center. Baylor is 5-1 and riding a three-game winning streak, most recently a 95-69 decision over Grambling State Wednesday. Baylor has won six straight home games. The young Bears, with nine freshmen and sophomores, are playing a full season and have a full allotment of scholarships for the first time in four years. Texas State is 2-4 and coming off a 77-71 win over Alcorn State Wednesday. Saturday's game is the first half of a Baylor basketball double-header that concludes with a women's contest vs. Southeast Missouri at 7 p.m. Saturday's game is the fourth in a five-game homestand for Baylor that concludes Dec. 9 vs. South Carolina.

BAYLOR TIP-INS
- Baylor (5-1) is off to its best start since the 2002-03 squad began the season 6-1.
- The Bears' 5 victories surpasses last season's win total of 4 games.
- Baylor has won 6 straight home games and 8 of its last 9 in the Ferrell Center (dating back to last season).
- Six Bears average 8.8 points per game or higher - the highest scoring six-pack at BU since 1970-71 when six players averaged more than 9.5 ppg.
- Baylor is 63-20 all-time against current Southland schools.
- Baylor is averaging 84.2 points per game (21 ppg more than last season), the school's highest scoring average since the `93-94 squad averaged 85.5 ppg.
- Aaron Bruce and Curtis Jerrells shot a combined 13% (4-of-30) on 3-pointers over the first 4 games this season - the pair has hit 63% (15-of-24) in the last 2 games.
- Aaron Bruce ranks 4th among the Big 12 assists leaders - 5.7 apg.
- Mamadou Diene is 2nd in the Big 12 in blocks per game, averaging 2.8 per game.
- BU is 57-19 in regular-season non-league games the last 7 seasons (5-1 in `06-07).
- Henry Dugat ranks 12th among the Big 12 scoring leaders - 14.5 ppg.
- Baylor has hit on an impressive 82.6% (19-of-23) of "clutch" free throws (the final 3 minutes of the game and overtimes).
- BU's sophomore quartet (Diene, Dugat, Jerrells & Rogers; last season's "Freshman Four") accounts for 52% of Baylor's scoring and 63% of its rebounds.
- Underclassmen have led BU in scoring in 45 of its last 51 games (dating to 2004-05) [in 29 of last 51 a freshman has been top scorer].
- Sophomore Mamadou Diene has made at least one block in all 22 career games.
- Freshman Tweety Carter has hit at least 1 3-pointer in all 6 career games.
- Injury Update: Jari Vanttaja (ankle sprain) doubtful for Saturday vs. TSU; Patrick Fields (knee sprain) should return in December; Penny Thiam (torn ACL) is out for the season.
- Baylor's last three recruiting classes have all been rated Top-20 nationally: 2006 No. 17 (Rivals.com); 2005 No. 11 (Rivals.com); and 2004 No. 10 (Hoopscoop.com).
- Baylor is 20-3 when scoring 70+ points (in Drew Era; 4 seasons).
- Baylor is 14-3 when totaling 40+ rebounds (last 5 seasons).
- BU is 1-34 when allowing opponents to shoot 50% or higher (in 4 years under Drew).

BAYLOR vs. NON-CONFERENCE FOES
The Bears are 57-19 in regular-season, non-league play over the past seven seasons (5-1 this season).

HEAD COACH Scott Drew
Scott Drew, in his fourth season at Baylor in what many have called the most daunting rebuilding project in college basketball history, owns a four-year mark of 26-54 at the school and a career record of 46-65 (five seasons). Prior to Baylor, 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 five national Top-20 recruiting classes over the last eight years (No. 17 in 2006, No. 11 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 TEXAS STATE BOBCATS
Head Coach: Doug Davalos (Houston, 1994); 74-39, 5 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: BU leads 13-4
Last meeting: Baylor 92-71; Dec. 4, 2002 in Waco
Streak: BU won 1 straight
Series in Waco: BU leads 13-3
Drew vs. TSU: 0-0
Baylor vs. Southland: 63-20

TSU NOTES: Texas State (2-4) is located in San Marcos, Texas (formerly Southwest Texas State), and is a member of the Southland Conference... The Bobcats lost four starters from last season's 3-24 squad... TSU has four players averaging double-digit scoring, led by senior F Charles Dotson's 14.8 ppg (Dotson was a third-team All-Southland honoree last season)... The Bears and Bobcats have faced one common opponent, Alcorn State - Baylor beat the Braves 90-59 Monday, Texas State defeated ASU 77-71 Wednesday.

FULL ROSTER, FULL SCHEDULE
For the first time in four seasons since head coach Scott Drew was hired, Baylor has both a full allotment of scholarships available and a complete schedule to play. For three seasons the Bears have played through handicaps: in each of the first three years the program was playing with scholarship limits; last season, the Bears were stripped of playing a non-conference schedule (all results of sanctions brought on by the previous coaching staff). In 2006-07 Baylor has 13 scholarships available and is playing a full schedule.

BEARS 5 WINS SURPASS LAST YEAR'S TOTAL
With last Wednesday's win over Grambling State, Baylor's five victories has surpassed last season's total of four wins. Last season the Bears played a conference-only schedule of 17 games (4-13 final record).

BEST START SINCE...
Baylor (5-1) is off to its best start since the 2002-03 Bears began the season 6-1. The `02-03 squad lost its eighth game. The last Baylor team to start the season 7-1 was the 2001-02 team which began 9-1.

MUCH MORE OFFENSE
Baylor is averaging 84.2 points per game, up 21.0 points from last season and the highest team scoring average since 1993-94 - when the Bears scored an average 85.5 points.

BRUINS BOAST TALENTED BACKCOURT
Baylor's strength in 2006-07 lies in it's talented pool of guards, including its trio of starters who each average 30-plus minutes per game: Curtis Jerrells (31.5 mpg), Aaron Bruce (30.7 mpg) and Henry Dugat (30.3 mpg). Reserve Demond "Tweety" Carter averages 21.7 minutes off the bench. The four guards combine to average 48.4 points a game. Bruce (2005) and Jerrells (2006) are former Freshmen All-Americans and true freshman Carter is the school's first-ever McDonald's All-American. Baylor's backcourt was listed among the nation's top 14 backcourts in The Sporting News preseason publication.

MORE TEAM BALANCE (SCORING/MINUTES PLAYED)
A byproduct of Baylor's increased depth and talent is a more balanced team, evidenced by balanced scoring and fewer minutes played. Four Bears average double-digits in scoring, and six boast scoring averages above 8.8 points per game - the highest scoring six-pack at Baylor since the 1970-71 squad had six players average more than 9.5 ppg. Baylor's leader in minutes played (Curtis Jerrells) is averaging 31.5 minutes per game, the lowest such total on a BU squad since 1998-99, when Tevis Stukes' 31.9 was his team's high.

ESTABLISHING A HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE
The rebuilding Bears are quietly establishing a winning tradition at home in the Ferrell Center. Baylor has won six straight home contests, and has won eight of its last nine games in Waco (dating back to last season).

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP FOR LAST SEASON'S "FRESHMAN FOUR"
Baylor is powered by its nucleus of youth, namely a quartet of sophomores which as rookies in 2005-06 was nicknamed the "Freshman Four": Mamadou Diene, Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells and Kevin Rogers. As freshmen the quartet combined to account for nearly half of the team's points, rebounds and assists. This season the sophomores have increased that production (percentages below).

DIENE, DUGAT, JERRELLS & ROGERS% of Team's:        Pts     Reb.        Asst.Freshmen in 2005-06 46% (496/1,074) 51% (252/493)   49% (92/186)Sophomores in 2006-07   52% (265/505)   63% (126/201)   44% (44/100)

BRUCE ALMIGHTY BACK, WITH INCREASED ASSIST TOTALS
Third-year guard Aaron Bruce is averaging 11.5 points and 5.7 assists [4th in Big 12] through six games. The junior, rated the nation's 11th-best point guard by The Sporting News preseason publication, spent the offseason playing for the Australian national team at the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Japan. Bruce averaged 13.1 points during an injury-riddled sophomore campaign last season and averaged 18.2 points in 2004-05 when he led the nation's freshmen in scoring and was named a freshman All-American.

JERRELLS BUILDING ON STELLAR FRESHMAN SEASON
Curtis Jerrells, who is averaging 13.2 points and 3.7 rebounds through six games, is coming off a rookie season in which he led the team in scoring (13.5 ppg), assists (3.3 apg), steals (1.4 spg) and minutes (33.4 mpg) and was named a Freshman All-American. Jerrells is projected a preseason All-Big 12 selection by Lindy's, USA TODAY and ESPN.com. He has also been named the Big 12's "Most Underrated Player" by both Athlon and The Sporting News preseason publications.

DUGAT PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS
Henry Dugat has started his sophomore season with a bang. Through six games (his first six career starts), the guard is leading the team with 14.5 points per game [12th in Big 12] and shooting 39 percent (11-for-28) on 3-pointers and 78 percent (14-for-18) from the free throw line. Dugat totaled career-highs of 29 points and seven rebounds in leading Baylor over Colorado State in the NIT Season Tip-Off.

MAYOR DIENE CONTINUES SHOT-BLOCKING PROWESS
Mamadou Diene, a seven-foot sophomore from Senegal, is averaging 5.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks [2nd in Big 12]. Diene led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman, averaging 2.2 in 2005-06 and his 2.45 career figure is second all-time at Baylor behind only current Milwaukee Buck Brian Skinner's 3.36 average (1994-98). Diene has blocked at least one shot in all 21 career games (15 multi-block games). The 19-year-old Diene, referred to as "The Mayor" by the Baylor coaching staff due to his huge popularity across campus, has gained more than 55 pounds since his arrival in the United States in Jan. 2005 weighing 197 pounds.

INJURIES: VANTTAJA DOUBTFUL, FIELDS SIDELINED, THIAM OUT
Baylor's roster is currently short three players out with injuries. Redshirt freshman F Jari Vanttaja, sidelined with an ankle sprain that occurred in pregame warmups prior to Wednesday's win over Grambling State, is doubtful for Saturday vs. TSU. Senior G/F Pat Fields is out with a sprained MCL in his knee suffered during the exhibition game Nov. 4 (expected to return in December). Freshman F Djibril "Penny" Thiam sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the win over Texas Southern Nov. 20 and is out for the season.

WIDE RECEIVER SIMS BACK ON HARDCOURT
After taking a short break following the conclusion of the football season, sophomore wide receiver Carl Sims re-joined the basketball team as a walk-on guard this week and played in his first game Wednesday in the win over Grambling State (two scoreless minutes). Sims played 10 basketball games last season as a true freshman, totaling 18 points in 23 minutes played. Sims caught 15 passes for 108 yards in his second football season in 2006.

BEARS STILL YOUNG
Despite returning 11 of last season's 13 players, the Bears are still a relatively young squad in 2006-07. Baylor's roster includes just two seniors and three juniors compared to nine freshmen and sophomores. [Note: Underclassmen have led Baylor in scoring in 45 of its last 51 games (over the last three seasons); in 29 of those 51 a freshman has been top scorer.]

LAST TIME OUT: BAYLOR 95 - GRAMBLING STATE 69
Freshman Tweety Carter scored 19 points to lead Baylor to a 95-69 victory over Grambling State at the Ferrell Center. Three-and-a-half minutes into the second half, Grambling State cut the lead to as little as 13 at 58-45, a 22-8 run, but would get no closer the rest of the way. After holding the Tigers at arms length, the Bears jumped back up by 20 with six points in a 46-second span with 13:22 to go and never let the lead slip below 18 for the rest of the night. Baylor surpassed its win total from a year ago, posting a 4-13 record in its abbreviated season and have won six in a row at home. Aaron Bruce totaled 18 points and five assists, and Curtis Jerrells scored 17 points. Kevin Rogers grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. Carter hit 6-of-11 from the field, 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and had a career-high five assists Baylor hit 12-of-16 3-pointers in the first half, including four from Jerrells and three from Bruce. The Bears jumped out to a 23-7 lead over the first 7:12, then led by as many as 25, 50-25, with 3:08 to go in the opening frame. From there, the Bears cooled off and the Tigers took advantage of a few late Baylor turnovers to trim the lead to 16, 55-39, heading into the break. The Bears shot 73.1 percent from the field in the first half, but turned the ball over 10 times. The Tigers shot 45.9 percent from the field and outscored the Bears, 13-6, in points off turnovers. The Bears took their largest lead of the game at 26 twice in the waning moments, leading 93-67 on Carter's layup with 1:13 to go and freshman center Josh Lomers' dunk with 11 seconds to go providing the final margin. Baylor shot 55.9 percent from the field for the game and 54.2 percent from 3-point range.

THE LAST MEETING: BAYLOR 92 - SOUTHWEST TEXAS ST. 71 [Dec. 4, 2002]
Lawrence Roberts scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Baylor to a 92-71 win over Southwest Texas at the Ferrell Center. Roberts was playing for the second time in four games due to a stress fracture in his leg. John Lucas and Carlton Dotson each added 18 points in the Bears' victory, while Kenny Taylor connected for 15 points. Leading 48-36 at halftime, Baylor opened the second period with a 13-2 run, and Southwest Texas never challenged for the lead. The Bobcats closed to 72-58 with just under eight minutes left to play, but the Bears put together a 16-6 run down the stretch to clinch the win. Both teams shot well from 3-point range with Baylor hitting 13 of 30 for 43 percent, and Southwest Texas making 13 of 28 for 46 percent. The Bears converted nine of nine first half free throws. The Bobcats never went to the line. With the win, Baylor extended its home winning streak against non-conference opponents to 23 games. Baylor is 4-0 for the fourth straight season (all under Dave Bliss), the first such occurrence in school history.

MILESTONES & RECORDS WATCH
- Aaron Bruce ranks 3rd on Baylor's career 3-point percentage list (.399).
- Aaron Bruce is 1 made 3-pointers shy of 6th place (124, Leon Morris No. 6 with 125) on Baylor's career 3-point field goal list .
- Pat Fields ranks 6th on Baylor's career 3-point percentage list (.378).
- Aaron Bruce ranks 5th on Baylor's career free throw percentage list (.823).
- Mamadou Diene ranks 2nd on Baylor's career blocks-per-game list (2.36).
- Mamadou Diene is 3 blocks shy of moving into 10th place on Baylor's career blocks list (52 blocks, Daryl Baucham & Ben Echols No. 10 with 55).

BEARS RETURN PRODUCTION NUMBERS
In 2006-07 Baylor returns four-of-five starters, 11-of-13 roster players and a great majority of its production, statistically speaking. The Bears return 87.6 percent of last season's points, 84.7 percent of rebounds and 93.5 percent of assists.

FERRELL CENTER'S 19th YEAR
The Bears enter their 19th season in the beautiful Ferrell Center this year. Baylor is 4-0 at home in 2006-07 and owns a 158-113 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.

FRESHMAN CLASS RATED 17th NATIONALLY
Baylor's 2006 signee class was rated the nation's 17th-best class by Rivals.com and is made up of a trio of freshman, all top-100 national recruits. The signees include Demond "Tweety" Carter of Reserve Christian School (Reserve, La.), Josh Lomers of Boerne (Texas) High School and Djibril "Penny" Thiam of Stoneridge Prep (Tarzana, Calif.).

INTERNATIONAL ROSTER
Baylor's 14-man, 2006-07 roster boasts 10 Americans and four players from overseas. The four international student-athletes include junior Aaron Bruce (native of Australia), sophomore Mamadou Diene (native of Senegal), redshirt freshman Jari Vanttaja (native of Finland) and true freshman Djibril "Penny" Thiam (native of Senegal).

EARLY 2007 SIGNEES
Baylor signed two players in the early signing period, LaceDarius Dunn of Monroe, La., and Fred Ellis of Sacramento, Calif. Dunn, a senior at Excelsior Christian School, is the highest-rated Baylor signee in recent memory. Dunn is rated the No. 18 recruit nationally by Scout.com's Dave Telep. Other national ratings include: No. 27 by Hoopmasters.com, No. 29 by HoopScoop.com and No. 33 by Rivals.com. A 6-4 shooting guard, Dunn was rated the No. 5 player at the 2006 Adidas Superstar Camp in Atlanta by USA TODAY. He is rated the nation's fifth-best shooting guard by Scout.com and the No. 7 shooting guard by Rivals.com. Dunn is a two-time, first-team all-state honoree who guided ECS to a 35-4 record as a junior in 2005-06, averaging 27.7 points, 13 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Dunn led Excelsior Christian to the Class C state title and a 47-2 record as a sophomore in 2004-05. Ellis is a senior at Sacramento High School in Sacramento, Calif. He was called the "biggest sleeper" recruit of the summer by Telep at Scout.com. A 6-7 wing, Ellis led SHS to a 29-6 overall record and an 11-1 conference mark as a junior in 2005-06. Sacramento lost in the SJS-Div. III championship game. Ellis averaged 7.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. Ellis was invited to the Super 100 Basketball Camp in Berkeley last summer.

BAYLOR EARLY SIGNEES:Name        Pos.    Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (Schools)LaceDarius Dunn G   6-4 190 Fr. Monroe, La. (Excelsior Christian School)Fred Ellis  F   6-7 190 Fr. Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento HS)

DEPARTED PLAYERS
Baylor lost just two lettermen from it's 2005-06 roster: four-year forward Tommy Swanson (6.6 ppg) and two-year transfer guard Kevis Shipman (2.1 ppg).

NEXT UP...
The Bears have a week between games before playing the final game of their five-game homestand Saturday, Dec. 9, when they host South Carolina. The game is scheduled to tip at 3 p.m. at the Ferrell Center and will be televised live on FSN Southwest.