BAYLOR (17-6, 5-4) vs. No. 11 TEXAS (20-4, 7-2)
Feb. 16, 2008 • Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas) • 5:00 p.m. CST

PDF of complete Game Notes & Stats

RADIO: Baylor-ISP Sports Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco / KVCE 1160AM Dallas / Sirius Satellite ch. 161)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: ESPN
INTERNET VIDEO: none
LIVE STATS:

THE GAME
Baylor hosts No. 11 Texas Saturday, Feb. 16, at a soldout Ferrell Center in front of a national television audience. The game will tip off at 5 p.m. CST and will be televised live on ESPN. Baylor is 17-6 overall and has matched its best start ever in Big 12 play with a 5-4 record. The Bears have lost two straight games, most recently a 93-83 setback at Oklahoma State Wednesday. Texas is 20-4 and 7-2 in the Big 12. The Longhorns have won four straight games including a 72-69 victory over No. 3 Kansas last Monday. Baylor is 10-2 at home this season; Texas is 5-2 in true road games. Baylor and Texas meet for the 228th time Saturday - the most-played rivalry for both schools. Baylor has lost 21 straight games to Texas, including an 80-72 defeat two weeks ago in Austin. The last four Baylor-Texas games have been decided by an average of 4.7 points.

BAYLOR TIP-INS
• Saturday's game is sold out (2nd sellout in last 3 home games).
• Record crowd expected Saturday [2 of top 4 crowds in Ferrell Center history vs. UT].
• Saturday marks the 228th meeting between Baylor and Texas, the most-played rivalry for both schools (UT leads 152-75).
• Baylor has lost 21 straight games to Texas dating to an 80-75 win in Waco 2-21-98.
• The Bears are 3-44 in the last 7 seasons vs. ranked teams & 1-3 this season.
• Baylor is 5-1 in its last 5 nationally televised games.
• Baylor has won 5 of its last 6 Big 12 home games (dating to last season).
• Baylor's 17-6 record is its best 23-game start since the `68-69 Bears began 17-6.
• Saturday marks the 228th meeting between Baylor and Texas, the most-played rivalry for both schools (UT leads 152-75).
• Baylor has lost 21 straight games to Texas dating to an 80-75 win in Waco 2-21-98.
• Curtis Jerrells (Del Valle HS) & Mark Shepherd (St. Michael's) are Austin natives.
• BU's 5-4 record matches its best ever in Big 12 play (opened 5-4 in 1997-98).
• BU's 17 wins surpasses last season's win total & marks the most wins in Drew Era; also most wins since winning 19 in 2000-01 (last postseason berth; NIT).
• In conference play, BU leads the Big 12 in scoring (81.9) free throw shooting (78.7%) & 3-pointers (8.0).
• 5 Baylor players average double-figures in scoring.
• Baylor's 74.7 free throw % leads the Big 12 (30th nationally).
• BU is 15-0 this season when totaling a higher FG% than its opponents and 2-6 when not. In the Drew Era, BU is 47-7 when outshooting its opponents and 6-68 when not.
• Baylor is 5-0 in its last 5 overtime games (since 2003).
• Baylor has used the same starting lineup in all 23 games this season.
• 9 current BU players average between 14.3 minutes & 30.7 minutes.
• Baylor's 12 pre-conference wins mark the most in school history.
• Baylor is 13-2 this season when Aaron Bruce scores in double-digits.
• LaceDarius Dunn is averaging 24.5 points over the last 2 games.
• True freshman LaceDarius Dunn has made 26 straight FTs over the last 6 games.
• Mamadou Diene leads the Big 12 with a 2.6 blocks average in conference games.
• LaceDarius Dunn's 93.9 FT% in conference games leads the Big 12.
• Mamadou Diene has shot 18-for-20 (90.0%) from FT line the last 9 games (4-11 in first 7 games).
• LaceDarius Dunn's 41.3 3-point % (3rd in Big 12) is top all-time for a BU freshman.
• Mamadou Diene is the Big 12's active leader in career blocks in league games (70).

ANOTHER SELLOUT
For the second time in its last three home games, Baylor has sold out all Ferrell Center tickets. Saturday's game vs. No. 11 Texas sold out in record time (all public tickets being purchased last Monday, five full days before the game) and a record, standing-room-only crowd is expected. The sellout, a rare occurance since the Ferrell Center opened in 1988, means Baylor has now sold out two of its last three home games (the other being the Jan. 26 game vs. Oklahoma) and will surpass the 10,000 mark in attendance for the third game this season (10,393 vs. OU; 10,193 vs. Washington State). Two of Baylor's top four crowds in Ferrell Center history have come vs. Texas (No. 1, 10,496 in 2002; No. 4 10,311 in 2003).

HEAD COACH Scott Drew
Scott Drew, in his fifth season at Baylor in what many have called the most daunting rebuilding project in college basketball history, owns a four-year mark of 53-75 at the school and a career record of 73-86 (six seasons). Drew's 53 wins rank eighth on Baylor's all-time coaching victories list (in seventh place on the list is Harry Miller with 56 career victories). 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 LONGHORNS
Head Coach: Rick Barnes (Lenoir-Rhyne, 1977); 438-224, 21 seasons
Series vs. Baylor: UT leads 152-75
Last meeting: UT 80-72, Feb. 2, 2008 at Austin
Streak: UT won 21 straight
Series in Waco: UT leads 61-45
Drew vs. UT: 0-10
UT NOTES: Texas is ranked No. 11 in both Top-25 polls this week... The Longhorns have won four straight games and seven of their last eight... Texas has won 21 straight games vs. Baylor, and has won nine straight in the series in Waco... The Horns are 5-2 this season in true road games... UT is led by sophomore G D.J. Augustin, who averages 19.3 points and a league-high 5.8 assists... Junior G A.J. Abrams is scoring 17.7 points and leads the Big 12 in 3-pointers, averaging 3.2 3s per game... Sophomore G/F Damion James averages a double-double (12.7 points, 10.7 rebounds).

BEST STARTS SINCE...
OVERALL: Baylor's 17-6 record is its best 23-game start since the 1968-69 squad opened 17-6. [`68-69 Bears won 24th game & finished season 18-6].
BIG 12: Baylor's 5-4 record in Big 12 play matched it's best start ever in the Big 12, equalling the 5-4 open of the 1997-98 Bears ('97-98 squad lost 10th game en route to an 8-8 finish, BU's best record in 11 previous Big 12 seasons). No Baylor squad has opened Big 12 play with a 6-4 record.

BEARS ON NATIONAL TV
Saturday's game vs. Texas on ESPN is Baylor's sixth national telecast of the season (4-1 record). Baylor is 9-4 in its last 13 nationally televised games (dating to 1998).

SUCCESS FROM THE LINE
Baylor has been incredibly successful from the foul line this season. The Bears shoot 74.7 percent from the line (363-486), which is tops in the Big 12 Conference and currently ranks 30th nationally. That percentage is on pace to be the third-best figure in school history. Baylor is led individually from the line by freshman G LaceDarius Dunn (87.1%), senior G Aaron Bruce (81.1%), junior F Kevin Rogers (79.4%) and junior G Curtis Jerrells (74.7%, ninth in Big 12). In conference games, Dunn leads the Big 12 with a 93.9 percentage; he currently owns a streak of 26-straight made free throws. Rogers ranks fifth in conference games (81.3%) and junior G Henry Dugat ranks 15th in league play (76.7%).

BEARS CONTINUE MASSIVE REBUILDING PROCESS
The 2007-08 season is head coach Scott Drew's fifth in the unprecedented overhaul that began at Baylor in 2003. After taking over a program decimated by tragedy, player departures, depleted rosters and NCAA restrictions, Drew has slowly and methodically turned the program around by recruiting a solid foundation of talented high school players that, after earning valuable playing experience, are posting impressive results. After fighting their way to a 15-16 record last season (the first in the Drew Era without restrictions), the Bears have run off a 17-6 record this season, including a 5-4 mark in the Big 12.

BEARS vs. NATIONALLY RANKED FOES
Saturday's matchup vs. No. 11 Texas is Baylor's fifth game against a ranked opponent this season. The Bears are 1-3 vs. ranked foes this season, the win being a 116-110 victory over No. 18/16 Texas A&M Jan. 23, that snapped a 29-game losing streak vs. ranked foes.

BAYLOR'S BACKCOURT: "IN GUARDS WE TRUST"
Baylor's strength in 2007-08 once again lies in its talented backcourt full of combo guards. The Bears utilize a rotation of five guards that each average 20-plus minutes per game. The quintet is made up of four veterans; senior Aaron Bruce (10.2 ppg, 23.5 mpg), juniors Curtis Jerrells (15.0 ppg, 30.7 mpg) and Henry Dugat (11.5 ppg, 26.0 mpg) and sophomore Tweety Carter (8.5 ppg, 24.0 mpg); and true freshman standout LaceDarius Dunn (13.0 ppg, 20.9 mpg). The fivesome accounts for 71 percent of the team's scoring (average 57.7 points) and shoots 38.4 percent on 3-pointers.

SEASON OF FIRSTS & BROKEN STREAKS
Baylor's turnaround season in 2007-08 has included various program `firsts' and several streaks being snapped. Complete list below:
• First Top-25 ranking since 1969 (BU ranked in Jan. 21 & Jan. 28 AP polls)
• First back-to-back weekly rankings in school history (Jan. 21 & 28)
• First win over ranked opp. since 2003 [broke 29-gm losing streak] (116-110 over #16 TAMU)
• Most wins since 2000-01 (17)
• First true road win since 2004 [broke 25-gm losing streak] (92-84 win at USC Dec. 19)
• First road win in Big 12 since 2004 [broke 25-gm losing streak] (72-70 win at NU Jan. 19)
• First 16-2 start since 1946
• First 4-0 start in Big 12 since 1998
• Most pre-conference wins in school history (12)
• First 8-team tournament title since 1968 (BU won 2007 Paradise Jam)
• First 5-overtime game in Baylor & Big 12 history (116-110 win over Texas A&M Jan. 23)
• Most Big 12 weekly honorees ever (4: Jerrells 2 POW, Rogers POW, Dunn ROW)

BALANCED SCORING
Baylor has shown a very balanced scoring attack this season, evidenced by five players averaging double-digits in scoring (Curtis Jerrells 15.0, LaceDarius Dunn 13.0, Kevin Rogers 12.0, Henry Dugat 11.5 and Aaron Bruce 10.2). The last time a Baylor team finished the season with five double-figure scorers was 1995-96.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY JOINS ELITE BAYLOR TRIO IN CAREER POINTS & ASSISTS
Aaron Bruce recently recorded his 300th career assist and became just the fourth Baylor player in school history to top 1,000 points (1,294) and 300 assists (309), joining Bear greats Vinnie Johnson (1,231/308), David Wesley (1,224/316) and Micheal Williams (1,854/464).

ESTABLISHING A HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE
The Bears are quietly establishing a winning tradition at home in the Ferrell Center. Baylor is 10-2 at the Ferrell Center this season and is 27-8 in its last 35 games in Waco (dating to 2005-06).

BEARS QB JERRELLS SURPASSES 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Curtis Jerrells became the 20th player in Baylor history to reach the 1,000-point plateau during a 30-point performance at Kansas last Saturday (70th career game). Jerrells has scored 1,040 career points and is currently tied for 19th on BU's scoring list. He is leading the Bears in scoring (15.0 ppg, eighth in Big 12), assists (3.5 apg, eighth in Big 12) and minutes (30.7 mpg) for the third straight season. He has twice earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season: Jan. 28 after exploding for 36 points in Baylor's epic five-overtime win at Texas A&M; and Nov. 19 after leading leading Baylor to the championship of the 2007 Paradise Jam (was named tournament MVP). The junior guard has started all 71 career games since arriving at Baylor, was a preseason All-Big 12 selection by the league coaches, Athlon and Lindy's, and a Cousy Award nominee. In conference games, Jerrells ranks fifth in scoring (16.9 ppg), eighth in assists (3.2 apg) and sixth in steals (1.6 spg). Jerrells ranks 10th in school history in assists (255) and 19th in scoring (1,040). He recently became the first alum of Del Valle High School in Austin to have his No. 0 jersey retired.

TRUE FRESHMAN DUNN PUTTING TOGETHER BREAKOUT SEASON OFF BENCH
True freshman LaceDarius Dunn has made an immediate impact on a Baylor squad stocked with talented guards. The highly recruited rookie from Monroe, La., has scored 23 and 26 points in the last two games. Dunn is second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and fifth in rebounds (4.0 rpg), despite playing just 20.9 minutes per game off the bench and playing through a knee injury. His 41.3 3-point percentage ranks third in the Big 12 and is on pace to be the top percentage ever recorded by a Baylor freshman (and the fourth-best overall single-season percentage in school history). Dunn has hit 26-straight free throws; his 87.1 free throw percentage (54-62) is tops on the team and he leads the Big 12 with a 93.9 percentage (31-33) in conference games. Dunn was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week Nov. 26 after leading BU to wins over Winthrop in the Paradise Jam championship and over Centenary and he has notched four 20-plus scoring games. Dunn is the highest-rated BU signee in recent memory (rated the nation's No. 24 recruit by Scout.com). He was named the "Best Perimeter Scorer" among incoming Big 12 newcomers by Rivals.com.

VETERAN LEADER BRUCE CONTINUES CLIMB UP RECORD LISTS
Senior Aaron Bruce is averaging 10.2 points per game, shooting 40.6 percent on 3-pointers, 81.1 percent from the foul line and continuing his climb up the school's all-time records lists - most notably the career scoring chart. Bruce, Baylor's veteran-most player with 97 career games played, currently stands seventh all-time with 1,294 career points (complete list of his ranking on seven different Baylor career charts below). He recently became the fourth player in Baylor history to top 1,000 points and 300 assists (along with Vinnie Johnson, David Wesley and Micheal Williams). The guard was selected a preseason All-Rolls Royce (All-American) fourth-team selection by ESPN.com's Dick Vitale and was named the Big 12's "Best Leader" by the Sporting News preseason publication prior to his final season in Waco. BRUCE ON BAYLOR'S CAREER RECORD LISTS
• 3-point FGs: No. 3 - 213
• 3-point FG %: No. 4 - 40.0%
• Games Started: No. 4 - 97
• Free Throw %: No. 5 - 81.5%
• Assists: No. 6 - 309
• Minutes Played: No. 6 - 2,905
• Points scored: No. 7 - 1,294

MR. ROGERS PILING UP DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Junior forward Kevin Rogers is averaging 12.0 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds (fifth in Big 12) this season. He has recorded seven double-doubles on the season, including three in league games. In conference games Rogers is averaging 11.9 points and 9.7 rebounds (fourth in Big 12). He was named the Big 12 Player of the Week Dec. 24 after averaging 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds while leading Baylor to road wins at South Carolina and Southern. Rogers was named to the 2007 Big 12 All-Improved team after a sophomore season in which he doubled his scoring (12.8 from 6.1 ppg) and nearly doubled his rebounding from his freshman season (7.6 from 4.0 rpg).

"FLASH" DUGAT USING ENERGY & QUICKNESS TO SPARK BEARS
Since re-entering the starting lineup this season, junior guard Henry Dugat has used his high energy and athleticism to boost Baylor during its turnaround season. In Big 12 Conference games, Dugat is averaging 13.0 points (15th in the Big 12), 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals (fourth in Big 12) and shooting 45.2 percent on 3-pointers. He has started all 23 games this season after finishing his sophomore year in the sixth man role. Dugat earned the nickname "Flash" from former teammate Tim Bush due to his quickness and style of play similarities to Dwyane Wade.

"THE MAYOR" BACK ON SHOT-BLOCKING SPREE WITH MENDED ANKLE
Mamadou Diene, a seven-foot junior from Senegal, has averaged 17.7 minutes off the bench in 16 games played since returning from an Oct. 25 procedure to repair a chronic stress fracture in his ankle (missed season's first seven games - had started all 43 games played in his freshman and sophomore seasons). His comfort level on the repaired ankle is evident by the return of his shot-blocking ability - he has totaled three-or-more blocks in eight of the last 11 games and he leads the Big 12 in blocks in conference games this season with a 2.6 average. Diene's 70 career blocks in Big 12 play is the most among the league's active players. He has recorded 110 career blocks and his 1.86 career blocks per game total is second all-time at Baylor behind only current Phoenix Suns Brian Skinner's 3.36 average (1994-98). Named the Big 12's "Best Shot Blocker" by the Sporting News preseason publication, Diene led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman (2.3 bpg) and was third (1.6 bpg) in an injury-plagued sophomore season. He is referred to as "The Mayor" due to his huge popularity across campus.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
One significant statistical indicator to Baylor's success in winning games is field goal percentage, offensively and defensively. This season, Baylor is a perfect 15-0 when totaling a higher shooting percentage than it opponents, and conversely is 2-6 when its opponents shoot a higher percentage. Further, in five seasons under Scott Drew Baylor has accumulated a 47-7 record when outshooting opponents and a 6-68 record when being outshot by opponents.

BEARS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Baylor is ranked among the top 50 nationally in seven team categories, listed below:
• Scoring: No. 16 - 81.2
• 3-Pt Field Goals: No. 26 - 8.7
• Blocks: No. 29 - 4.9
• Free Throw %: No. 30 - 74.7%
• Won-Loss %: No. 37 - 73.9%
• Scoring Margin: No. 47 - +8.8
• 3-Pt Field Goal %: No. 48 - 38.2%

SURPASSED LAST SEASON'S WIN TOTAL
The Bears' 17 wins in 2007-08 are the most in the Drew Era (surpassing last season's 15) and mark the most at Baylor since the 2000-01 squad finished 19-12 (last BU team to participate in postseason; first round of NIT).

MILESTONES & RECORDS WATCH
• Scott Drew is 3 coaching wins shy of moving into 7th place (53, Harry Miller No. 7 with 56) on Baylor's career coaching victories list. • Aaron Bruce is 1 assist shy of moving into 5th place & 5 shy of 4th place (309, DeMarcus Minor No. 5 with 310; Jay Shakir No. 4 with 314) on Baylor's career assists list. • Curtis Jerrells is 5 points shy of moving into 18th place, 6 shy of 17th place & 13 shy of 16th place (1,040, Kelvin Chalmers No. 18 with 1,045; Winston Moore No. 17 with 1,046; Jerry Mallet No. 16 with 1,053) on Baylor's career scoring list. • Aaron Bruce is 3 3-pointers shy of moving into 6th place (129, Texas A&M's Bernard King No. 6 with 132) on Big 12's career 3-pointers in conference games list.

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES...
Baylor is receiving votes in both the Associated Press (5 votes; 34th) and ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches' (10 votes; 31st) polls this week. The Bears spent two weeks [Jan. 21 & 28] in the Top 25 (school's first national ranking since 1969) and have received votes in the polls in 11 of 15 weeks this season.

LAST TIME OUT: OKLAHOMA STATE 93 - BAYLOR 83
A flat first half performance put Baylor in a 20-point hole it couldn't dig its way out of in a 93-83 loss to Oklahoma State at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys surged to a 20-point first half lead on the strength of 55 percent shooting before Baylor started a comeback. The Bears scored the first six points of the second half to get back in the game and got within single digits when Henry Dugat capped an eight-point surge with a three-point play that made it 58-49 with 11:53 remaining. Baylor had a chance to get even closer. After Kevin Rogers' layup got the Bears within 71-62 with 5:41 left, Curtis Jerrells picked off an outlet pass at midcourt but was unable to connect on a 3-pointer from the right wing. James Anderson answered with a three-point play at the other end for Oklahoma State, and that started a run of eight straight points that extended the Cowboys' lead to 17. Tweety Carter scored nine quick points in under a minute to get Baylor back within nine in the final minute, and Rogers got the deficit down to 91-83 with a putback with 15.8 seconds left but it was too late then for a real rally. Freshman LaceDarius Dunn led Baylor with 26 points, Carter scored 18, Jerrells added 13, and Dugat had 10. Oklahoma State raced to a 16-2 lead in the first six minutes. The turnover-prone Bears didn't make their second basket until Mamadou Diene converted a hook shot in the lane 7:22 into the game. The Cowboys' lead reached 30-10 with 8:10 to go before halftime. Baylor cut the deficit to 15 on several occasions, but a technical foul against Jerrells with 1:02 left before halftime helped Oklahoma State restore its lead to 49-29.

THE LAST MEETING: No. 10 TEXAS 80 - No. 25 BAYLOR 72 [Feb. 2, 2008]
Baylor's upset bid fell short as the 25th-ranked Bears lost 80-72 to No. 10 Texas at the Erwin Center, their 21st straight loss to the Longhorns. Hot shooting gave the Bears a double-digit lead in the first, culminating with a 3-pointer by Curtis Jerrells that made it 31-17 eight minutes before the half. The Horns pulled to within 38-34 at the break. Baylor hit six 3s in the first half. Texas took its first lead, 41-40, on Connor Atchley's 3-pointer three minutes into the second half. A Tweety Carter 3-pointer put Baylor back on top 43-41 one minute later. D.J. Augustin then hit his only field goal of the game, a 3 with 15:40 remaining that gave the Longhorns a 44-43 lead. Then a technical foul was whistled on Scott Drew for questioning a non-call after contact on a missed shot. A.J. Abrams made both free throws and then hit a 3 from the right corner to push the lead to 49-43. Baylor cut the lead to four three times in the last three minutes, encouraged by a large and boisterous contingent of Bears fans in attendance, but couldn't make the push to get the lead or at least get the game into overtime.

BIG 12 HONORS
Baylor players have received four weekly Big 12 honors this season, the school's most-ever single-season weekly awards. Baylor has earned three player of the week awards and one rookie of the week award:
LaceDarius Dunn, Big 12 Rookie of the Week, Nov. 26, 2007
Dunn was honored after leading the Bears to to wins over Winthrop (in the championship game of the Paradise Jam) and Centenary. Dunn set then-career-highs for points with 17 in each game, shooting a combined 13-of-20 (.650) from the floor off the bench. He also shot 5-of-10 on 3-pointers and averaged 5.5 rebounds.
Curtis Jerrells, Big 12 Player of the Week, Nov. 19, 2007
Jerrells was honored after leading Baylor to wins over Wichita State and Notre Dame at the Paradise Jam tournament. He averaged 20.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two wins and shot 54 percent from the 3-point line and 92 percent from the free throw line.
Curtis Jerrells, Big 12 Player of the Week, Jan. 28, 2008
Jerrells earned his second honor after averaging 26.5 points as No. 25 Baylor split two games, an epic five-overtime win over No. 16 Texas A&M and a 77-71 loss to Oklahoma. He scored a career-high 36 points and made a Big 12 and school-record 20 free throws in the Bears' 116-110 marathon thriller at A&M, including 11 points in the last overtime period to clinch the win in the longest game in Big 12 history.
Kevin Rogers, Big 12 Player of the Week, Dec. 24, 2007
Rogers was honored after leading the Bears to two road wins at South Carolina and Southern that snapped a 25-game losing streak in true road games. He averaged 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds and had two double-doubles. Rogers had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double at USC and scored a game-high 21 points in a win at Southern.

RECORD ATTENDANCE NUMBERS
Baylor's on-court success is attracting record numbers of fans to the Ferrell Center. Two of the top five attended BU games all-time have come this season, and the single-season average attendance record of 6,843 (set in 2001-02; BU averaging 6,501 this season with four home games remaining) is within reach. Top-five crowds came this season vs. Oklahoma (10,393, No. 3 all-time) and vs. Washington State (10,193, No. 5).

PARADISE JAM CHAMPS
Baylor earned the 2007 Paradise Jam championship with an impressive three-game run Nov. 16-19 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bears defeated Wichita State (64-55), Notre Dame (68-64) and Winthrop (62-54) to earn the title at the eighth annual tournament. Baylor overcame second-half deficits in both the semis (down 10 to N.D) and the final (down six to Winthrop) to earn the title. Curtis Jerrells was named the tournament MVP after leading the Bears with 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and Aaron Bruce also earned a spot on the all-tournament team. The title marked Baylor's first in-season tournament championship (excluding the Baylor-hosted Dr Pepper Invitational) since winning the 1971 Holiday Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. (last eight-team tournament title was the 1968 East Carolina Classic in Greenville, N.C.).

BAYLOR'S SUMMER TOUR TO CANCUN
Baylor spent Labor Day weekend 2007 on a basketball tour to Cancun, Mexico. The four-day trip included two exhibition games as well as sun and fun for the Bears. Baylor beat Belize Tuff E Nuff 115-47 Sept. 1, before defeating the hometown Mexican professional team Quintana Roo 91-57 Sept. 2. Both games were played in Cancun's sweltering Kuchil-Baxal Gymnasium. Baylor was led in scoring both games by junior Henry Dugat, who totaled 25 and 20 points. Aside from the games, the players and travel party enjoyed swimming, jet skiing, fishing and shopping on the Yucatan Peninsula.

MOST EXPERIENCED BEAR SQUAD IN YEARS
For the first time in years, Baylor took the court in 2007-08 with a predominantly upperclassman, experienced team. After several seasons of young, inexperienced teams, the Bears returned nine lettermen, including seven lettermen with multiple letters. The roster includes two seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen. Veteran Aaron Bruce is the just the fourth four-year senior to play at BU in the last eight seasons. Baylor's '07-08 returnees entered the season with a combined 246 career starts under their collective belts, the highest such number at BU in over a decade.

FERRELL CENTER'S 20th YEAR
The Bears are in their 20th season in the beautiful Ferrell Center this year. Baylor is 10-2 at home in 2007-08 and owns a 177-120 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.

EARLY 2009 SIGNEES
Baylor signed two players in the early signing period, Anthony Jones of Houston (Texas) Yates High School and Russian Artem Valov of Three Rivers Community College. Jones, a senior at Yates, is rated 46th nationally by Rivals.com and is a consensus top-70 recruit. He is rated No. 51 by Hoopmasters.com and No. 62 by Scout.com. Jones averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds last season as a junior for a Yates squad that finished 25-8 in 2006-07. A 6-10 forward, Jones is rated No. 8 among the nation's forwards by Rivals.com and ranked as the fourth-best recruit in the state by TexasHoops.com. Valov is a junior college sophomore who was recently named a preseason NJCAA first-team All-American. He is rated the No. 12 junior college recruit nationally by Rivals.com's JucoJunction.com. The 6-9 forward helped lead Three Rivers to a 26-11 record and into the second round of the NJCAA tournament. Valov was named to the 2007 NJCAA All-Tournament team. Valov finished his freshman season with averages of 14.0 points and 7.2 rebounds.

NEXT UP...
Baylor travels to Norman, Okla., for a Tuesday, Feb. 19, matchup against Oklahoma. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CST at Lloyd Noble Center and will be televised live regionally via ESPN Plus syndicated stations.