BAYLOR (20-9, 8-7) at TEXAS TECH (16-13, 7-8)
March 8, 2008 • United Spirit Arena (Lubbock, Texas) • 12:45 p.m. CST

PDF of complete Game Notes & Stats

RADIO: Baylor-ISP Sports Radio Network (ESPN/KRZI 1660AM Waco / Sirius Satellite ch. 161)
INTERNET AUDIO: live broadcast at BaylorBears.com
TELEVISION: ESPN Plus (KWTX & The CW in Waco/Temple) [complete TV listings]
INTERNET VIDEO: none
LIVE STATS:

THE GAME
Baylor concludes its regular season schedule Saturday, March 8, with a game against Texas Tech in Lubbock. The game tips off at 12:45 p.m. CST at the United Spirit Arena and will be televised live regionally via ESPN Plus syndicated stations (KBTX"The CW" in Waco/Temple). Baylor is 20-9 overall, 8-7 in Big 12 play, and in a three-way tie for fourth place heading into the final weekend. The Bears are coming off a 71-57 loss to Texas A&M Wednesday in Waco. Texas Tech is 16-13, 7-8 in the Big 12 and coming off a 109-51 defeat at Kansas Monday. Baylor is 8-5 away from home and 5-4 in true road games this season; the Red Raiders are 13-2 at home this season. Baylor has dropped nine straight games to Texas Tech in Lubbock.

BAYLOR TIP-INS
• Of BU's 9 losses, only one has been by more than 10 points & all but one have come to teams ranked among the top 50 in RPI (#81 OSU).
• BU is aiming for its first postseason action since 2001 (NIT); last NCAA berth 1988.
• BU's 20 wins are the most since winning 23 in 1987-88 (23-11, NCAA berth) & only 4th 20-win season in 102 seasons of basketball.
• Baylor has dropped nine straight games to Texas Tech in Lubbock (last win 1998).
• BU is 5-4 in true road games this season (2-37 record in 5 years before this season).
• BU is 8-5 in away games this season (5-4 true road, 3-1 neutral).
• Baylor is 3-4 in Big 12 road games this season (lost 25 straight before this season).
• Mark Shepherd & Josh Lomers earned 2008 Academic All-Big 12 first team status.
• Curtis Jerrells was named to the NABC All-District 9 first team.
• Kevin Rogers is this week's Big 12 Co-Player of the Week.
• BU is 3-1 since its staff promised to shave a coach's head after each victory (Matthew Driscoll, Jerome Tang and Paul Mills have been shaved).
• BU leads the Big 12 in free throw shooting (73.9%) & 3-pointers made (8.7).
• BU's 8 conference wins match the most in program history (8-8 in `97-98).
• BU is receiving votes in AP & coaches polls (first season to receive votes since `01).
• BU is averaging 81.1 points (2nd in Big 12 & 9th nationally), the school's highest average since `93-94; 2,352 points on pace to break single-season record of 2,393.
• BU is 18-1 this season when totaling a higher FG% than its opponents and 2-8 when not. In the Drew Era, BU is 50-8 when outshooting its opponents and 6-70 when not.
• BU's 5-guard rotation averages 57.5 points - 71% of teams scoring.
• 6 Baylor players average 9.2 points or higher.
• Kevin Rogers is averaging 15.0 points, 11.3 rebounds & had 5 double-doubles the last 6 games.
• Mamadou Diene leads the Big 12 with a 2.2 blocks average in conference games.
• LaceDarius Dunn's 41.6 3-point % (2nd in Big 12) is top all-time for a BU freshman.
• Aaron Bruce ranks 7th on BU's all-time scoring list (1,326 career points).
• Kevin Rogers has 12 double-doubles this season (3rd most among Big 12 players).
• Mamadou Diene is the Big 12's active leader in career blocks in league games (80).
• Curtis Jerrells ranks 12th on BU's all-time scoring list (1,132 career points).

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 56-78 at the school and a career record of 76-89 (six seasons). Drew's 56 wins rank seventh on Baylor's all-time coaching victories list (in eighth place on the list is Dave Bliss with 61 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 TECH RED RAIDERS
Head Coach: Pat Knight (Indiana, 1995); 4-5, first season
Series vs. Baylor: Tech leads 73-42
Last meeting: BU 80-74, Feb. 6, 2008 in Waco
Streak: BU won 1 straight
Series at Lubbock: Tech leads 42-11
Drew vs. Tech: 3-6
TECH NOTES: Texas Tech is 4-5 since head coach Pat Knight took over the Red Raider program following the resignation of his father Bob Knight... Pat's first game as a head coach was an 80-74 loss to Baylor in Waco... The Red Raiders are led by senior G/F Martin Zeno, who averages 16.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game... The Raiders have won nine straight over Baylor in Lubbock... Tech is 13-2 at home this season.

BIG 12 STANDINGS/SEEDINGS UNKNOWN HEADING INTO FINAL GAME
Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Baylor is in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big 12 standings. The Bears potential seeding for the 2008 Big 12 Championship next week in Kansas City is completely up in the air - BU can end up anywhere from No. 3 seed to No. 8 seed). The tournament will be held at the new Sprint Center and opens with a first round Thursday, March 13 and concludes with a championship game Sunday, March 16.

BEARS MAKING PUSH FOR POSTSEASON
The Cinderella Bears are making a push for the school's first postseason appearance since 2001 when Baylor played in the postseason NIT (lost at New Mexico in opening round, finished season 19-12). Baylor's last NCAA Tournament appearance was 1988, when Gene Iba's Bears finished second in the Southwest Conference before losing to Memphis in the first round of the NCAAs (23-11 final record).

BAYLOR STAFF LOSING HAIR WITH WINS
The Bears are 3-1 since the Baylor coaching staff pledged to shave a staff member's head following each win in the final weeks of the season. After a fourth-consecutive loss at Oklahoma Feb. 19, the pact was struck with five regular-season games remaining. Since then, three staffers have received haircuts: assistant coach Matthew Driscoll (Feb. 23 after 92-86 win over No. 24 Kansas State), assistant coach Jerome Tang (Feb. 27 after 68-57 win at Colorado) and coordinator of operations Paul Mills (March 1 after 100-89 win over Missouri).

BEARS' TURNAROUND SEASON
Baylor burst onto the national basketball scene this winter when, despite being picked to finish ninth in the Big 12 by the league's coaches, the Bears raced off to a 12-2 non-conference record (including a Paradise Jam championship) and opened conference play 4-0. The 16-2 start was Baylor's best since 1946 and resulted in the school's first national ranking since 1969. The Bears, who are in the latter stages of one of the most incredible rebuilding projects in college basketball history, are currently 20-9 and in contention for a postseason berth.

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES...
Baylor is receiving votes in both the Associated Press (7 votes; 33rd) and ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches' (5 votes; 32nd) 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 12 of 18 weeks this season.

IMPROVED ROAD FORTUNES
TRUE ROAD GAMES (5-4 in '07-08):
The Bears are 5-4 this season on opponents' home courts, reversing a 2-37 record in 39 true road games before this season (from 2002-03 to 2006-07).
BIG 12 ROAD GAMES (3-4 in '07-08):
Baylor is 3-4 this season on the road in Big 12 games, the win in its first road game Jan. 19 snapped a 25-game losing streak prior to this season (dating to 2004).
ALL AWAY GAMES (8-5 in '07-08):
Baylor is 8-5 this season away from Waco (5-4 in true road games, 3-1 at neutral sites). The Bears were 4-41 in their previous 45 games outside of Waco before this season (from 2003 to 2007).

CURRENT BEARS AMONG BEST 3-POINT SHOOTERS EVER
Statistically speaking, several of the best long-range shooters in Baylor basketball history play for the 2007-08 Bears squad. Three of the top five (by career percentage) and four of the top nine Baylor shooters ever are current players. See list below:
CAREER 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (min. 50 made)
Player (years), 3FGM-3FGA, pct.
1. Melvin Hunt (1987-91), 81-162, .500
2. Mark Buchanan (1983-87), 55-113, .487
3. LaceDarius Dunn (2008), 64-154, .416
4. Aaron Bruce (2004-08), 217-551, .394
5. Henry Dugat (2005-08), 120-306, .392
6. R.T. Guinn (2001-04), 103-263, .392
7. Kenny Taylor (2001-03), 105-269, .390
8. David Wesley (1989-92), 123-326, .377
9. Tweety Carter (2006-08), 106-283, .375
10. Willie Sublett (1990-94), 144-393, .366

MOST WINS SINCE...
OVERALL: The Bears' 20 wins in 2007-08 is the highest victory total at Baylor since Gene Iba's 1987-88 squad finished 23-11 (the last Baylor team to participate in the NCAA Tournament). This is only the fourth 20-win Baylor squad in school history; the previous three have all participated in the NCAA Tournament (including `47-48 national runners up).
BIG 12: Baylor's eight conference wins (8-7) matches the school's highest total in Big 12 play (1997-98 squad finished 8-8). In 11 previous seasons of Big 12 play no Baylor squad has reached nine league wins.

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 posted a 20-9 record this season, including an 8-7 mark in the Big 12.

JERRELLS NAMED TO NABC ALL-DISTRICT 9 FIRST TEAM
Curtis Jerrells earned a spot on the 2008 All-District 9 first team, selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Jerrells is the first Baylor player to be honored with all-district distinction since Lawrence Roberts was named to the first team in 2003. Joining Jerrells on the first team were D.J. Augustin of Texas, Martin Zeno of Texas Tech, Robert McKiver of Houston and Josh Carter of Texas A&M.

SHEPHERD & LOMERS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM HONORS
Mark Shepherd and Josh Lomers were honored as Academic All-Big 12 first team selections, announced this week. Shepherd is a graduate student in the Baylor MBA program after graduating in May of 2007 with a bachelor's degree in business. He also earned Academic All-Big 12 first-team honors in 2006, and is a five-time selection to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Shepherd has seen action in all 29 of Baylor's games, earning starts in the last five. He averages 1.6 points and 12.6 minutes. Lomers is a pre-business major and is a first-time Academic All-Big 12 selection. He has started 24 of 28 games played and shoots a team-best 62.0 percent from the floor. He averages 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and has recorded 21 blocked shots on the season. The academic all-league first team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA.

ROGERS BIG 12 CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Baylor junior Kevin Rogers was named Phillips 66 Big 12 Co-Conference Player of the Week based on his performances in wins at Colorado and vs. Missouri last week, the league announced Monday. The selection is the second for Rogers this season. Rogers averaged 18.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in two wins last week. He had a team-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 68-57 victory at Colorado. Rogers followed that performance with 12 points and 12 boards in a 100-89 tally over Missouri. In the two wins, Rogers shot 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from the field and made 10-of-12 (.833) from the free throw line. Also honored along with Rogers this week was co-player Brandon Rush of Kansas, as well as rookie of the week Michael Beasley of Kansas State. The players are selected by a media panel which covers Big 12 men's basketball.

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 (9.2 ppg, 22.1 mpg), juniors Curtis Jerrells (15.1 ppg, 30.9 mpg) and Henry Dugat (12.1 ppg, 26.8 mpg) and sophomore Tweety Carter (9.2 ppg, 25.0 mpg); and true freshman standout LaceDarius Dunn (12.4 ppg, 20.9 mpg). The fivesome accounts for 71 percent of the team's scoring (average 57.5 points) and shoots 38.7 percent on 3-pointers.

HIGHEST-SCORING BEARS TEAM EVER 9th NATIONALLY IN POINTS
Baylor is averaging 81.1 points per game, second-highest among Big 12 schools and the ninth most nationally. That figure, bolstered by six overtime periods, is the highest total at BU since the `93-94 team finished with an 85.5 scoring average. Baylor's 2,352 total points is on pace to break the school's single-season scoring mark of 2,393 points.

SUCCESS FROM THE LINE
Baylor has been incredibly successful from the foul line this season. The Bears are shooting 73.9 percent from the line (465-629), which is tops in the Big 12 Conference and currently ranks 34th nationally. That percentage is on pace to be the fourth-best figure in school history. Baylor is led individually from the line by freshman G LaceDarius Dunn (82.9%), junior F Kevin Rogers (80.0%, third in Big 12), and senior G Aaron Bruce (79.1%).

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 18-1 when totaling a higher shooting percentage than it opponents, and conversely is 2-8 when its opponents shoot a higher percentage. Further, in five seasons under Scott Drew Baylor has accumulated a 50-8 record when outshooting opponents and a 6-70 record when not.

SEASON OF FIRSTS, BROKEN STREAKS & NEW RECORDS
Baylor's turnaround season in 2007-08 has included various program `firsts', snapped streaks and new records. Complete list below:
• Most wins (20) since 1987-88
• Only fourth 20-win team in Baylor history
• 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 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)
• Most Big 12 road wins (3) ever
• Most wins over ranked teams since 2000-01 (2: beat #16 Texas A&M & #16 Kansas St.)
• First win over ranked opp. since 2003 [broke 29-gm losing streak] (116-110 over #16 TAMU)
• Best start (16-2) 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 (5: Jerrells 2 POW, Rogers 2 POW, Dunn ROW)
• Set new attendance record of 116,015 (16 games)
• Highest average attendance in Ferrell Center history (7,251 in 16 games)
• Largest crowd in school history (overflow 10,521 vs. UT Feb. 16)
• on pace to break season scoring mark of 2,393 points - just 41 points shy (2,352)

JERRELLS LEADING BEARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
Curtis Jerrells powers the Bears and continues to stand out as the most lethal offensive weapon on a high-scoring team full of scorers. He is leading the Bears in scoring (15.1 ppg, ninth in Big 12), assists (3.7 apg, sixth in Big 12) and minutes (31.0 mpg) for the third straight season. Jerrells became the 20th player in Baylor history to reach the 1,000-point plateau this season and he currently ranks 12th all-time in points scored (1,132). He was recently named to the NABC All-District 9 first team and has twice earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season: Jan. 28 after exploding for 36 points in an epic five-overtime win at Texas A&M; and Nov. 19 after leading Baylor to the championship of the 2007 Paradise Jam (was named tournament MVP). The junior guard has started all 77 career games since arriving at Baylor and he ranks ninth in school history in assists (279). In conference games, Jerrells ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring (16.3 ppg), fifth in assists (3.6 apg) and eighth in steals (1.5 spg). He recently became the first alum of Del Valle High School in Austin to have his jersey retired.

MR. ROGERS PILING UP DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Junior forward Kevin Rogers is averaging 12.6 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds (fifth in Big 12) this season. He has recorded 12 double-doubles on the season, including eight in league games - the third-highest total among Big 12 players. In conference games Rogers is averaging 13.1 points (17th in Big 12) and 10.3 rebounds (third in Big 12). He has twice been named the Big 12 Player of the Week; most recently March 3 after averaging 18.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in wins at Colorado and vs. Missouri as well as Dec. 24 after averaging 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in 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).

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., is third on the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and fifth in rebounds (3.9 rpg), despite playing just 20.9 minutes per game off the bench and playing through a knee injury. His 41.6 3-point percentage ranks second in the Big 12 and is on pace to be the top percentage ever recorded by a Baylor freshman (and the fifth-best overall single-season percentage in school history). Dunn is shooting 82.9 percent from the line and ranks second in conference games at 84.9 percent. 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 BRUCE CLIMBING RECORD LISTS
Senior Aaron Bruce is averaging 9.2 points per game 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 103 career games played, currently stands seventh all-time with 1,326 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. 2 - 217
• Assists: No. 3 - 316
• Games Started: No. 4 - 98
• Minutes Played: No. 4 - 3,005
• 3-point FG %: No. 4 - 39.4%
• Points scored: No. 7 - 1,326
• Free Throw %: No. 8 - 81.1%

BRUCE JOINS ELITE BAYLOR TRIO IN CAREER POINTS & ASSISTS
Aaron Bruce recently recorded his 300th career assist and became the fourth player in Baylor history to top 1,000 points (1,326) and 300 assists (316), joining greats Vinnie Johnson (1,231/308), David Wesley (1,224/316) and Micheal Williams (1,854/464).

"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 13.5 points (16th in the Big 12), 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals (eighth in Big 12) and shooting 47.1 percent on 3-pointers. He has started all 29 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.

TWEETY FLOURISHING IN STARTING ROLE
Sophomore G Tweety Carter, who started the last 13 games of his freshman season, re-entered the starting lineup five games ago after coming off the bench the first 24 games this season. Carter is shooting a team-high 41.9 percent on 3-pointers (the fourth highest percentage in Baylor history) and is second on the squad in assists with 86. He is averaging 9.2 points on the season, but in five games as a starter has averaged 11.8 points and hit 13-of-22 3-pointers. Carter is Baylor's first-ever McDonald's All-American and the highest scoring high school player in U.S. history (7,457 points in six varsity seasons). He received his nickname Tweety (given name is Demond) due to the sound of his crying as a baby.

"THE MAYOR" BACK TO SHOT-BLOCKING WAYS
Mamadou Diene, a seven-foot junior from Senegal, has averaged 3.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 17.5 minutes off the bench in 22 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). He leads the Big 12 in blocks in conference games this season with a 2.2 average. Diene's 80 career blocks in Big 12 play is the most among the league's active players. His 120 career blocks and 1.85 career average are both second all-time at Baylor behind only current Phoenix Suns Brian Skinner's 346 total and 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.

BIG 12 HONORS
Baylor players have received five weekly Big 12 honors this season, the school's most-ever single-season weekly awards. Baylor has earned four 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.
Kevin Rogers, Big 12 Player of the Week, March 1, 2008
Rogers earned his second award after averaging 18.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in two wins. He had a team-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 68-57 win at Colorado. He followed with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double in a 100-89 win over Missouri. He shot 54.2 percent from the field and made 10-of-12 free throws in the two wins.

LAST TIME OUT: TEXAS A&M 71 - BAYLOR 57
Cold-shooting Baylor was downed 71-57 by Texas A&M in a physical slugfest in front of a record crowd of 10,545 at the Ferrell Center. Curtis Jerrells and Mamadou Diene scored nine points apiece for Baylor, which was held under 60 points for the first time this season. The Bears, the Big 12's best 3-point shooting team, went 4-for-19 from long range and shot 21-for-63 (33 percent) overall. Baylor failed to register a double-digit scorer for the first time in the shot-clock era (1985). Baylor took a brief lead at 31-30 behind 3-pointers by Tweety Carter and Jerrells before Donald Sloan converted a three-point play to give Texas A&M the lead for good. With two minutes to play things got ugly after 6-foot-9 Joseph Jones dropped 5-10 Carter with a vicious screen at midcourt. The result of the play, a non-call, was a layup by Sloan, Carter dazed on the floor attended to by medical staff, the home crowd up in arms and technicals fouls (to Diene and A&M associate head coach Scott Spinelli) that followed a heated on-court exchange by both teams and coaching staffs. The Aggies kept their poise and made 12 of 13 free throws in the closing minutes. Sloan finished off the game with a showboat dunk, drawing loud jeers from the crowd. Fans threw plastic soda bottles onto the court as the smiling Aggies trotted off. Baylor shot just 24 percent (7-for-29) and missed all nine 3-point attempts in the first half as the Aggies took a 26-21 lead.

THE LAST MEETING: BAYLOR 80 - TEXAS TECH 74 [Feb. 6, 2008]
Baylor shot 52.3 percent en route to an 80-74 win over Texas Tech at the Ferrell Center, spoiling the debut of Tech head coach Pat Knight aired nationally on ESPNU and ESPN. Up 37-36 1 ½ minutes into the second half, the Bears turned up their defensive pressure and reeled off a 12-1 spurt that finished with a steal-and-dunk by Kevin Rogers at the 16-minute mark to push the lead to 49-37. Baylor forced six Red Raider turnovers during that span. The Red Raiders managed to cut a 14-point deficit to three at 74-71 on John Roberson's 3-pointer with 33 seconds left before Aaron Bruce and Mamadou Diene combined for six straight free throws to clinch the win. Curtis Jerrells led Baylor with 16 points, LaceDarius Dunn and Josh Lomers, with glue on his middle shooting finger to seal busted skin, added 14 points each for Baylor. The Red Raiders had a 17-8 lead 5 1/2 minutes into the game and a 21-15 lead with 11:05 left, but missed 10 of their final 11 shots of the half as Baylor took a 34-32 lead into the half. The Bears snapped a two-game losing streak that had knocked them out of the Top 25 after they were in the national rankings for the first time since 1969.

MILESTONES & RECORDS WATCH
• Curtis Jerrells is 2 3-pointers shy of moving into 6th place (136, Tevis Stukes No. 6 with 138) on Baylor's career 3-pointers list.
• Kevin Rogers is 1 double-double shy of moving into 5th place (12, William Chatmon & Alex Holcombe No. 5 with 13) on Baylor's single-season double-doubles list.
• LaceDarius Dunn is 5 3-pointers shy of setting a new record for freshman 3-pointers (64, Aaron Bruce No. 1 with 69 in 2002) at Baylor.
• Aaron Bruce is 34 points shy of moving into 6th place (1,326, Darrell Hardy No. 6 with 1,360) on Baylor's career scoring list.
• Curtis Jerrells is 91 points shy of moving into 11th place (1,132, Willie Sublett No. 11 with 1,223) on Baylor's career scoring list.
• Mamadou Diene is 8 blocks shy of moving into 6th place (41, Ben Echols No. 6 with 49) on Baylor's single-season blocks list.
• Aaron Bruce is 13 3-pointers shy of moving into 5th place (133, ISU's Jake Sullivan No. 5 with 146) on Big 12's career 3-pointers in conference games list.
• Scott Drew is 5 coaching wins shy of moving into 6th place (56, Dave Bliss No. 6 with 61) on Baylor's career coaching victories list.
• Baylor is 41 team points shy of setting a new single-season scoring record (2,352, record is 2,393 in 1987-88).
• Baylor is 12 team blocks shy of setting a new single-season blocks record (136, record is 148 in 1992-93).
• Baylor is 1 team 3-pointer shy of moving into 4th place & 3 shy of 3rd place (251, 2006-07 made 252; 2002-03 made 254) on Baylor's all-time 3-pointers made list.

RECORD ATTENDANCE NUMBERS
Baylor's on-court success is attracted record numbers of fans to the Ferrell Center and resulted in several new attendance records this season. The Bears set new records for total attendance (116,015), average attendance (7,251) and single-game attendance (10,545 vs. Texas A&M 3-5-08). In fact, Baylor recorded four of the top seven crowds all-time in 2007-08.

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.

BEARS RETURN HIGH PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Baylor in 2007-08 returned all five starters, nine of 12 roster players and nearly all of its statistical production. The Bears return 90.6 percent of last season's points, 86.9 percent of rebounds and 94.5 percent of assists.

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.

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 Kansas City, Mo., to compete in the 2008 Big 12 Championship at the Sprint Center. The Bears seeding and even date of first game is still undetermined (BU seed can be anywhere from No. 3 to No. 8). The tournament opens with a first round Thursday, March 13 and concludes with a championship game Sunday, March 16.