Baylor advances in NCAA Tournament with 79-55 win over Hartford

INDIANAPOLIS — The No. 1 seed Baylor men’s basketball team (23-2) dominated No. 16 seed Hartford (15-9) in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship 79-55 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 

This game was certainly a tale of four quarters, and Baylor looked horrendous for the first. Splitting the game into 10-minute increments, the Bears were on their heels for the opening 10 before finally turning it on. That said, Hartford just couldn’t hang around for the final 30. 

And it was the MaCio Teague show again as the senior guard dropped a clean 22 points in his March Madness debut. Moreover, the Bears dropped 11 three-pointers, outrebounded Hartford 43-35, forced 24 turnovers and led the points off turnovers battle 22-6. 

Oh boy. The first half started so awfully bad. 

The Bears started 3-14 from the field and looked worse than they had against Kansas State or Oklahoma State during the Big 12 Tournament. And just as the nation turned its eyes to TruTV to see Baylor struggle, the onslaught began with the good guys making 10 of their next 12. 

The Green and Gold went on a 24-7 run that ended the Hawks’ dreams. After starting so poorly, the Bears finished 15-31 from the field, held Hartford to 30% shooting, forced 13 turnovers, outscored the Hawks  18-10 in the paint and took a 37-21 lead into the half. 

The second half was just coasting. Hartford would pull back within 13, but Baylor was never really threatened. Most of the nation had turned its eyes to the Oral Roberts and Ohio State game, and they didn’t miss much. Teague exploded for 11 in the second half alone to aid the 79-55 final. 

Key points: Mark Paterson scored. Adam Flagler, welcome back. You have been missed. Speaking of missed, Jared Butler finished shooting just 5-16 and 1-8 from deep. But Teague had his back. Speaking of Teague, that guy is unconscious right now. Legend has it he just hit another three. 

Hartford can officially listen to One Shining Moment without cursing the team, and Baylor keeps on dancing.