BAYLOR (4-11, 4-11) at OKLAHOMA STATE (15-14, 5-10)
March 4, 2006 - Gallagher-Iba Arena (Stillwater, Okla.) - 6:00 p.m. CST

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RADIO: Baylor-ISP Sports Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco / ESPN/KESN 103.3FM Dallas)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: Cowboy Sports Network / FSN Southwest (in Texas)
INTERNET VIDEO: none
LIVE STATS: see www.OKState.com

THE GAME
Baylor concludes the regular season Saturday, March 4, when it faces Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. Tipoff at Gallagher-Iba Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST. Baylor (4-11, 4-11) is currently tied for 11th place in the Big 12 Conference and has won back-to-back games after a 77-66 victory over Texas Tech Wednesday in Waco. BU has played just 14 games after an NCAA ban removed all non-conference games. The result is that the young Bears, playing four freshmen among their eight-man rotation, have played the nation's toughest schedule. Oklahoma State (15-14, 5-10) is in 10th place in the conference after losing at No. 17 Oklahoma Monday. Baylor has lost 16 of its last 17 games and five straight vs. the Cowboys, including a 66-48 loss in Waco in January (the second game of Baylor's abbreviated season). Regardless of Saturday's outcome, Baylor's seed for the Big 12 Championship won't be determined until the outcome of Sunday's Nebraska-Missouri game.

BAYLOR TIP-INS
- Baylor's schedule is rated the nation's toughest (by ESPN.com's InsideRPI).
- Baylor has won back-to-back Big 12 games for the first time since 2002-03.
- Baylor is 3-29 in its last 32 away games (dating to '02-03) and has lost 15 straight.
- Baylor has lost 5 straight games to OSU and 16 of the last 17.
- Senior Tommy Swanson has averaged 9.1 points & 5.3 rebounds the last 7 games.
- Baylor's "Freshmen Four" account for 46% of the team's scoring, 52% of rebounds, 48% of assists and 49% of minutes played.
- Mamadou Diene leads the Big 12 in blocks per game (2.1 bpg) and 11th in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds (2.6 orpg).
- BU's 38.7 3-point percentage is on pace to set a new school-record (38.5% '86-87).
- Baylor rookies lead the Big 12 freshmen in blocks (Mamadou Diene, 2.1 bpg), rebounds (Diene, 6.1 rpg) and minutes played (Curtis Jerrells, 33.1 mpg).
- BU's 4 freshmen are outproducing the Bears' 4 returning starters in scoring (30.1-23.1 average points) and rebounding (15.5-11.5 average boards).
- BU's 8.1 average 3-pointers per game ranks 2nd in the Big 12 and 42nd nationally.
- Aaron Bruce leads the Big 12 in 3-point percentage (44.3%) and 3rd in 3-pointers per game (2.9).
- Baylor ranks 2nd in the Big 12 in 3-point shooting, hitting on 38.7% of 3s.
- Curtis Jerrells was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week and Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week Feb. 13.
- Freshman Mamadou Diene has made at least one block in all 15 career games.
- Baylor has used the same starting lineup in all 15 games this season.
- Curtis Jerrells' 28-point effort in the win over Missouri matched the top scoring total by a freshman in the Big 12 this season.
- 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 38 of its last 43 games (dating to last year) [in 26 of last 43 a freshman has been top scorer].
- Baylor's bench has accounted for 38% of its scoring (354 of 937 points).
- Baylor's 4 Big 12 wins is its most conference victories in Drew's 3 seasons.
- Baylor is 15-2 when scoring 70+ points (in Drew Era; 3 seasons).
- BU is 1-33 when allowing opponents to shoot 50% or higher (in 3 years under Drew).

HEAD COACH Scott Drew
Scott Drew, in his third season at Baylor in what many have called the most daunting rebuilding project in college basketball history, owns a three-year mark of 21-51 at the school and a career record of 41-62 (four 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 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 (15-14, 5-10) is currently being coached by head coach designate Sean Sutton, son of head coach Eddie Sutton who is on leave of absence.
OSU NOTES: The Cowboys are 10-5 at home this season... OSU has lost five of its last seven games... The Cowboys are led by junior F/C Marrio Boggan, who averages 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE SERIES
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with Baylor by a 44-12 margin. The Cowboys have won 16 of the last 17 meetings and five straight, including a 66-48 win in Waco in January (the second game of BU's abbreviated season). Baylor trails 18-2 in games played in Stillwater and has lost two straight.

SCENARIOS FOR BAYLOR'S BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING
Heading into the final game of the regular season, the Bears' seeding for the Big 12 Championship is still undetermined. Win or lose Baylor can end up either No. 11 or No. 12 depending on the outcome of Sunday's Nebraska-Missouri game (oddly enough BU can lose in Stillwater and be seeded 11th or win Saturday and end up the 12 seed). Regardless of the outcome of the Baylor-Oklahoma State game, if Missouri loses the Bears are the 11 seed and if Mizzou wins Baylor is the 12 seed.

IMPROBABLE WINNING STREAK
The overachieving Bears have put together back-to-back wins for the first time since a five-game winning streak during non-conference play in 2004-05 (last win Jan. 3, 2005 over Chicago State). Baylor's last Big 12 winning streak was a three-game stretch in 2002-03 that ended Feb. 22, 2003 with a win over Nebraska.

NATION'S TOUGHEST SCHEDULE
Baylor's lack of non-conference games resulted in a schedule filled solely with Big 12 opponents. The Bears' difficult conference-only slate is rated the nation's toughest strength of schedule (by ESPN.com's InsideRPI).

BRUCE LEADING BEARS AS SOPHOMORE
The Bears are once again led by second-year guard Aaron Bruce, though he hasn't had to carry the team's scoring load as he did during his sensational rookie year in which he led the nation's freshmen in scoring (18.2 ppg) and earned All-Big 12 and Freshman All-American accolades. Bruce is averaging a team-high 12.9 points per game in his sophomore campaign, leads the Big 12 in 3-point percentage (44.3%) and ranks third in 3-pointers made (2.9 3pg). Over the last five games, the Aussie has averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and has shot 57 percent (17-of-30) on 3-pointers.

SWANSON STEPPING UP HIS PLAY
Senior F/C Tommy Swanson is ending his college career on a high note, having stepped up his play over the last seven games. In that span he has averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds and shot 51.2% from the field (Swanson's numbers in the season's first eight games: 3.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 30.0 FG%).

YOUNG BEARS OVERCOME CRIPPLING SANCTIONS
Baylor was hamstrung to start its season by a crippling combination of no non-conference games and heavy inexperience. Due to NCAA sanctions Baylor was set back by having to start its season against teams in mid-season form. At the same time, the Bears had to do so with a roster loaded with freshmen lacking collegiate experience (BU's "Freshmen Four" play an average of 25.8 minutes between them). As a result it took the young Bears several games to gel and play competitive basketball. The following statistical comparison charts the improvement Baylor has made since the first five games of its season:

             First 5 gms Last 10 gms    Win-Loss Record:        0-5     4-6    Scoring Margin:     -23.6       -3.4    3-point FG %:       .307        .425    3-pointers per game:    6.2     9.0    Rebounding Margin:      -11.6       -4.7    Free Throw %:       .582        .715    Jerrells' ppg, 3FG%:    7.4, 11.8%  15.2, 45.8%    Swanson's ppg, rpg, bpg:    2.2, 3.0, 0.2   8.1, 5.6, 1.2

JERRELLS MAKING BIG SPLASH AS ROOKIE
Curtis Jerrells has steadily produced for the Bears since taking over the starting PG position to begin the season. The lefty true freshman from Austin, Texas, has averaged 12.6 points (second on the team) and 3.3 assists (tied for the team lead). Jerrells earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors and Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week honors after scoring a career-best 28 points on 5-of-6 3-pointers in Baylor's 90-64 win over Missouri (the 28-point effort matched the top scoring game by a Big 12 freshman this season) and he hit a game-winning 3-pointer vs. Kansas State.

ROAD WOES
Baylor owns a 3-30 record in its last 33 games away from home (dating back to the 2002-03 season) and has lost 16 straight (last road win was 73-72 upset at Purdue Dec. 30, 2004). The Bears are 2-27 in their last 29 games played on opponents' home courts and have lost 15 straight.

"FRESHMAN FOUR" A FORCE FOR THE BEARS
Four of Baylor's six freshmen, the "Freshman Four" (Mamadou Diene, Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells, and Kevin Rogers), are playing significant minutes and have made an immediate impact on this year's team. The freshmen have combined for 46 percent of the team's points, 52 percent of the rebounds, 48 percent of the assists and 49 percent of the minutes played.

THE YOUNG "MAYOR" BIG 12's TOP SHOT-BLOCKER
Mamadou Diene, a seven-foot redshirt freshman from Senegal, has made his presence felt early in his young career. Diene, referred to as "The Mayor" by the Baylor coaching staff due to his huge popularity across campus, has averaged 3.5 points, 6.1 rebounds (12th in the Big 12) and a league-leading 2.1 blocks per game. Diene ranks 11th in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds, averaging 2.6 per game. The 18-year-old Diene has gained more than 40 pounds since his arrival in the United States in Jan. 2005 weighing 197 pounds.

BAYLOR FRESHMEN OUTPERFORMING THE VETERANS
Baylor's four returning starters haven't carried the team as much as most Bear fans might have expected heading into the season. The quartet (sophomores Aaron Bruce and Richard Hurd, junior Tim Bush and senior Tommy Swanson) is averaging just 23.1 points and 11.5 rebounds per game combined; by comparison Baylor's four freshmen combine to average 30.1 points and 15.5 rebounds.

MOST CONFERENCE WINS SINCE 2002-03
Baylor's 77-66 win over Texas Tech was its fourth Big 12 victory of the season, the most in the three rebuilding years under Scott Drew. The Bears, who have been hamstrung by sanctions in each of Drew's three seasons at the helm, have finished 3-13 (`03-04) and 1-15 (`04-05) in Big 12 play the last two years. Baylor finished 5-11 in the league in 2002-03, the year prior to Drew's arrival.

THE BIG 12's YOUNGEST TEAM
Baylor is playing with a very inexperienced squad of youngsters. The Bears roster includes six freshmen (nine total underclassmen) and only two seniors. BU's freshmen average 25.8 minutes played per game - the most in the Big 12. Additionally, Baylor boasts the conference's leading freshman in blocks [Mamadou Diene, 2.1 bpg], rebounds [Diene, 6.1 rpg] and in minutes played [Curtis Jerrells, 33.1 mpg], as well as the No. 2 freshman in scoring [Jerrells, 12.6 ppg], shooting [Diene, 54.8% FGs] and assists [Jerrells, 3.3 apg]. Freshmen have led Baylor in scoring in eight of 15 games this season. Baylor's six freshmen (5 true, 1 redshirt) on the roster is the school's highest total in 28 years (seven frosh on '78-79 squad).

MILESTONES & RECORDS WATCH
- Aaron Bruce ranks 3rd on Baylor's career 3-point percentage list (.415).
- Curtis Jerrells is 12 assists shy of moving into 6th place on Baylor's freshman single-season assists list (45 assists, Rodney Smith No. 6 with 62).
- Tommy Swanson is 1 block shy of moving into 8th place on Baylor's Top 10 career blocks list (64 blocks, Jamie Kendrick No. 8 with 65).
- Aaron Bruce is 11 made 3-pointers shy of moving into 6th place on Baylor's career 3-point field goal list (112 made, David Wesley No. 6 with 123).
- Curtis Jerrells' 12.6 scoring average ranks 9th on Baylor's freshman scoring average list.
- Mamadou Diene ranks 6th on BU's single-season blocks per game list (2.13).
- Curtis Jerrells ranks 4th on the Big 12's all-time freshman minutes played list (33.07 mpg).
- Pat Fields ranks 7th on Baylor's career 3-point percentage list (.376).
- Aaron Bruce ranks 5th on Baylor's career free throw percentage list (.818).
- Tommy Swanson is 3 disqualifications shy of moving into 6th place on Baylor's career fouled-out list (13 FOs, Steve Bartels No. 6 with 16).
- Kevis Shipman is 8 made 3-pointers shy of qualifying for BU's career 3-point percentage list (would be 9th at .360).
- Mamadou Diene is 3 blocks shy of moving into 3rd place on Baylor's freshman single-season blocks list (32 blocks, John Flippen No. 3 with 35).

HOME vs. ROAD SUCCESS
The Bears have played significantly better basketball at home in the Ferrell Center this season than they have on the road. In addition to a better record at home (4-4 vs. 0-7 on the road), the following chart details other significant statistical differences based on location:

         Home        Road    Win-Loss Record:    4-4     0-7    Scoring Margin: -1.7        -19.7    Field Goal %:   .435        .350    Rebounding Margin:  -2.2        -12.4    Fields' FG%, PPG:   54.5%, 11.7 32.0%, 3.9    Diene PPG, BPG: 5.1, 2.5        1.6, 1.7

JERRELLS EARNS BIG 12 AND NATIONAL HONORS
Baylor true freshman G Curtis Jerrells was selected the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week and the Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week last week after averaging 22 points in a win over Missouri and a loss at Oklahoma Feb. 7 and 11. The Big 12 award, selected by a media panel, is the first for a Baylor rookie since then-sophomore transfer Tim Bush was honored in January of last season. Jerrells, a true freshman from Austin, averaged 22 points and hit 6-of-7 3-pointers in Baylor's win over Missouri and loss at Oklahoma. He had a career day in the MU win, shooting 11-of-14 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Jerrells also scored a team-high 16 in the loss at OU.

THE LAST MEETING: OKLAHOMA ST. 66 - BAYLOR 48 [January 14, 2006]
Playing just its second game of the season, Baylor was outmatched against Oklahoma State and dropped a 66-48 decision in its home opener in the Ferrell Center. Hamstrung by an NCAA penalty that banned its non-conference games, Baylor faced a Cowboy squad playing its 17th game of the season. The young Bears got off to a miserable start and never recovered. Baylor, which played five freshmen, missed its first six shots and had five turnovers while OSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Mamadou Diene, the 7-foot freshman from Senegal, finally scored an inside basket six minutes into the game. Henry Dugat's layup 25 seconds later came after an OSU turnover, but the Bears never got closer than that six-point deficit. The Cowboys went on a 14-4 run to push the lead to 24-8 six minutes before the half and never looked back. OSU led 33-22 at the half. Baylor's lack of game experience was evidenced by 23 turnovers and several missed layups and dunks. The Bears shot just 9-for-21 from the free throw line.

LAST TIME OUT: BAYLOR 77 - TEXAS TECH 66
Down 29-26 at the half, Aaron Bruce took over in the second half for Baylor and pushed the team to a 77-66 win over Texas Tech on Senior Night at the Ferrell Center. The win avenged a 79-61 loss to the Red Raiders in Lubbock on Jan. 11, the Bears' first game of their abbreviated season. Bruce, who scored just three points on two field goal attempts in the first half, exploded for 25 points in the second half to lead Baylor to the win. Bruce finished with 28 points on 6-for-7 3-point shots with seven rebounds. Texas Tech scored five straight points to open the second half and take a 34-26 lead. But the Bears responded with a 14-7 run and took a 43-41 lead on Bruce's 3-pointer with 12 minutes remaining. Though the Red Raiders stayed close, the Bears never trailed again. With Bruce burying another 3-pointer and an outside jumper and senior Kevis Shipman hitting a layup, the Bears opened up a 57-47 lead with 7:56 remaining. Patrick Fields scored 14 points and Curtis Jerrells added 11 points and helped put the game away with six straight free throws down the stretch. Baylor made 10 of 10 free throw attempts in the final 1:30 to seal the win. Freshman center Mamadou Diene played just 16 minutes because of foul trouble, but his stretch of play in the second half before fouling out was crucial. He had six points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. The contest marked the final home game for seniors Shipman and Tommy Swanson. Swanson finished with 11 points. Freshman guard Henry Dugat missed his second straight game with an undisclosed medical condition.

BEARS ON RECORD 3-POINT SHOOTING PACE
Baylor is shooting 38.7 percent (second in the Big 12) on 3-pointers this season, currently on pace to break the school record of 38.5 percent recorded by the 1986-87 squad. The Bears are averaging 8.1 made 3-pointers per game, the second-most in the Big 12 and No. 37 nationally. That figure currently ranks fourth on the school's single-season 3-point field goals per game list (school-record 9.46 3FG/G in 1994-95).

BAYLOR'S THREE TRUE FRESHMEN REMINISCENT OF `01-02 TRIO
Baylor's three true freshmen - Henry Dugat, Curtis Jerrells and Kevin Rogers - made an immediate impact this season, an impact reminiscent of a trio of Bear cubs that made a big splash in 2001-02. This year's freshmen are putting up numbers comparable to the previous trio of John Lucas III, Lawrence Roberts and Kenny Taylor. [Lucas and Roberts were eventual All-Americans and NBA players].

BAYLOR TRUE FRESHMEN             MPG PPG RPG APG'05-06 True Freshman (Dugat, Jerrells & Rogers) 79.8    26.6    9.4 5.0'01-02 True Freshman (Lucas, Roberts & Taylor)  69.3    33.7    11.4    5.5

BAPTISM BY FIRE FOR BAYLOR'S CUBS
Rarely have collegiate freshmen been thrust into NCAA Division I play as emphatically as Baylor's cubs. The Bears rookies, without the benefit of non-conference games, jumped right from the high school ranks into Big 12 play (and the nation's toughest schedule). Additionally, Baylor's freshmen have played substantial minutes against experienced opponents in mid-season form.

BAYLOR'S 100-YEAR CELEBRATION
The 2005-06 season marks the 100th season of collegiate basketball at Baylor. Baylor's Centennial, which is presented by H-E-B, has been celebrated by a season-long series of events that culminated with last weekend's lettermen reunion. The highlight of BU's Centennial Weekend was the unveiling of Baylor's All-Centennial Basketball team, selected by a combination of fan voting and an expert panel. 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.

HALF A SEASON
Due to unprecedented NCAA sanctions brought on by the previous coaching staff, Baylor did not play any regular-season non-conference games this season. 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]

BAYLOR'S THIRD HANDICAPPED SEASON
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.

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).

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.

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).

SIGNEE CARTER NAMED McDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN
Baylor signee Demond "Tweety" Carter has been selected to the prestigious 2006 McDonald's All-American Team. The 5-10, 170-pound guard will play for the West Team in the 29th Annual McDonald's All-American game March 29 at Cox Arena in San Diego, Calif. The game will be televised live on ESPN at 9 p.m. CST. Carter, a native of LaPlace, La., is the first Baylor player to be selected a McDonald's All-American. The McDonald's game is one of two all-star contests Carter will participate in. He was also selected to participate in the 2006 Jordan All-American Classic to be played April 22 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The incoming freshman has scored more than 7,200 career points at the prep level and is the second-highest scorer in national high school history. Carter, who has made 246 3-point field goals this season at RCS, recently broke the national record for single-season 3-pointers; shattering the old mark of 215.

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.

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)

NEXT UP...
The Bears head to Dallas to compete in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship to be held March 9-12 at American Airlines Center. Baylor will play a quarterfinal game Thursday, March 9, but the exact time and opponent have yet to be determined.