Bears close The Drum in style with 68-61 victory over #21 Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 3 Baylor men’s basketball team (25-5, 13-4) closed out the era of the Frank Erwin Center with rugged defense, topping the No. 21 Texas Longhorns (21-9, 10-7) by a score of 68-61.

Adam Flagler and James Akinjo put up 19 points each with Flagler helping Baylor break open a lead and Akinjo icing the game away. Akinjo neared a triple-double with 8 rebounds and 7 assists on the evening. 

In the first half it was freshman Kendall Brown who stepped up to support the great guards by netting 12 of his 13 points. While he would struggle with foul trouble later, the freshman’s first-half performance was very important in such a defensive struggle.

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As usual in the Big 12, the game started tight, with Texas building a modest five-point lead five minutes in. That lead expanded to 16-9 as Texas closed out an 8-0 run.

Brown then broke the ice for the Bears with a smooth three-pointer, and Baylor upped the intensity at both ends of the court from there.

Matthew Mayer hit the boards hard again, playing some of his scrappiest ball in a Baylor uniform. He registered just two points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes but was a team-leading +12 for the game in plus/minus.

The green and gold closed out the half shooting well but they left a couple of opportunities on the floor with turnovers. The halftime score was 30-27 Texas, thanks in large part to the Longhorns' 13 points off of eight Baylor turnovers.

In the second half, the defensive intensity rose again for both teams, and the skill of Baylor's guards saw the Bears past Texas. 

Flagler scored 16 of his 19 after the break, including three three-pointers in three and a half minutes of game time to keep the game neck and neck at 46-44.

Later, Akinjo and Flagler combined for a 9-0 run starting with around five minutes left. That run broke a 54-54 deadlock and essentially sealed the game. 

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Flo Thamba had himself another good game, scoring 12 and grabbing six boards. Jeremy Sochan, the other “center” did not stuff the stat sheet tonight, but his hustle and active hands on defense were a great contribution. 

The Bears were able to see the game out with free throws, and they closed out the Erwin Center with a 68-61 Longhorns loss.

Baylor will now prepare for its regular-season finale at home against Iowa State on Saturday. That game will tip-off at 5 PM CT on ESPN 2.

In the meantime, if Kansas drops either of its Tuesday and Thursday matchups with TCU, they will fall into a tie with the Bears in the Big 12 standings heading into the Jayhawks finale with Texas on Saturday.