Longhorns outlast Bears 78-72 for 23rd straight time

WACO - Texas coach Rick Barnes has never lost to Baylor. Tonight the scrappy Bears (15-5) gave coach Barnes and the number 11th ranked Longhorns (15-4) a serious run for their money but fell short of the victory before a frenzied crowd at the Ferrell Center, 78-72. The loss marks the 23rd consecutive in the series for Baylor over the last 11 years against Barnes. The win also improves the Longhorns record to 4-1 in Big 12 conference play and 15-4 overall. Texas senior guard AJ. Abrams (3) led the team in scoring with 19 points. He also tied a Big 12 record with his 338th made 3-pointer early in the game. Unfortunately, he did not score another three in the game so he must share the record with Jeff Boschee who played at Kansas in the nineties for now.

An off shooting night from behind the arc by Tweety Carter, Curtis Jerrells and Henry Dugat of the Bears aided in the Longhorns win. The normally sensational Baylor guard trio were only 5-16 collectively from 3-point range. Still Baylor was only down four at 74-70, when Abrams foolishly fouled Carter behind the arc. With a chance to bring the game to within a basket before an eager home crowd Carter could not get any of his three free-throws to fall. Quincy Acy secured the rebound of his third miss and was fouled. He knocked down both of his free-throws bringing the Bears to within a bucket at 74-72 but they would get no closer. The Texas Longhorns did not fair much better at the charity stripe in the final seconds but managed to push enough freebies across the lip of the rim to secure the win. Dogus Balbay split his four attempts and Connor Atchley hit both of his to provide the final margin of victory. Texas next plays at home against the Kansas State Wildcats, Sat Jan 31st at 4pm.


Texas' Justin Mason, left, blocks the shot of Baylor's Curtis Jerrells, right, in the first half. (AP Photo/ Jerry Larson)

---