Phew; glad to get that albatross off our necks.
Now for the glee -- how many pundits brackets were busted by our win?
Now for the glee -- how many pundits brackets were busted by our win?
Photo by Jim Black
Baylor Basketball
Freeman, Maston help Baylor advance with 91-73 victory over NMSU
TULSA, Okla. — With an apparent clean slate to begin the NCAA Tournament against New Mexico State on Friday, an unlikely duo was the reason Baylor was able to put two first-round exits farther in the rear-view mirror as the Bears defeated the Aggies 91-73 on Friday.
Baylor juniors Terry Maston and Al Freeman found themselves in Scott Drew's doghouse during the final 10 games of Baylor's regular season and their loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament, a stretch where the Bears went 5-6 after beginning the season 20-1.
The two missed a combined four games and saw their minutes fall off considerably in games which they did play, but their combined 40 points and 14 rebounds against the Aggies could be just what the doctor ordered to move their things back home completely.
And give Baylor additional mojo they have missed over the last several weeks.
After a buzzer-beating three just before the half gave NMSU a 40-38 lead at the break, the Bears answer was to casually score the second-most points of a game this while shooting 57.4 percent from the field.
Freeman's 21 points came on red-hot shooting from the outside (3-3) and efficiency at the line (6-6). Countering Freeman from the outside, Maston connected on 9-of-12 shots inside the perimeter.
The two carried Baylor through the first half and the early stages of the second half, but their performance was enough to ignite the rest of the team.
After missing the majority of the first half with two fouls, senior Johnathan Motley scored 15 points and collected 10 rebounds while tallying three assists and two blocks. Jo Lual-Acuil was also a force on the interior, chipping in 16 points, five rebounds and three blocks.
After allowing NMSU to shoot over 50 percent from the field in the field half, Baylor's defense locked down in the final 20 minutes. The Aggies finished the game shooting only 43.8 percent from the field.
Baylor will advance to the second round of the postseason tournament for the first time since 2014. The Bears will face the winner of No. 6-seed SMU and No. 11-seed USC on Sunday.
Baylor juniors Terry Maston and Al Freeman found themselves in Scott Drew's doghouse during the final 10 games of Baylor's regular season and their loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament, a stretch where the Bears went 5-6 after beginning the season 20-1.
The two missed a combined four games and saw their minutes fall off considerably in games which they did play, but their combined 40 points and 14 rebounds against the Aggies could be just what the doctor ordered to move their things back home completely.
And give Baylor additional mojo they have missed over the last several weeks.
After a buzzer-beating three just before the half gave NMSU a 40-38 lead at the break, the Bears answer was to casually score the second-most points of a game this while shooting 57.4 percent from the field.
Freeman's 21 points came on red-hot shooting from the outside (3-3) and efficiency at the line (6-6). Countering Freeman from the outside, Maston connected on 9-of-12 shots inside the perimeter.
The two carried Baylor through the first half and the early stages of the second half, but their performance was enough to ignite the rest of the team.
After missing the majority of the first half with two fouls, senior Johnathan Motley scored 15 points and collected 10 rebounds while tallying three assists and two blocks. Jo Lual-Acuil was also a force on the interior, chipping in 16 points, five rebounds and three blocks.
After allowing NMSU to shoot over 50 percent from the field in the field half, Baylor's defense locked down in the final 20 minutes. The Aggies finished the game shooting only 43.8 percent from the field.
Baylor will advance to the second round of the postseason tournament for the first time since 2014. The Bears will face the winner of No. 6-seed SMU and No. 11-seed USC on Sunday.
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