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Dunn scores 19, No. 24 Baylor beats Nebraska 55-53

Feb 11, 2010 - 5:21 AM By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer

LINCOLN, Neb.(AP) -- Baylor didn't win any style points against the Big 12's last-place team, but the Bears did win the game.

Considering their history on the road, that was good enough.

Ekpe Udoh scored the go-ahead basket with 25 seconds left, Quincy Acy made two big defensive plays at the end and No. 24 Baylor pulled out a 55-53 victory over Nebraska on Wednesday night for only its eighth win in 53 conference road games.

"Any road win in the Big 12 is to be cherished," Bears coach Scott Drew said. "They are always hard fought. It can be by one point or 30 points. They're huge."

LaceDarius Dunn scored 19 points to lead the Bears (18-5, 5-4 Big 12), and Udoh had six blocks to go with eight points and nine rebounds.

"We never let the thought of losing enter our minds," Udoh said. "We stayed strong and got stops on those last possessions. We played defense and shut them down at the end."

Myles Holley scored a career-high 11 points for Nebraska (13-11, 1-8), and Eshaunte Jones and Brandon Richardson added 10 apiece.

"Any loss that comes down to the wire you're hurt, but you're more disappointed because we know we broke down in the last minute," Holley said.

The Cornhuskers led 53-50 after Lance Jeter penetrated the lane and kicked the ball out to Richardson on the wing for a 3-pointer with 2:20 left.

Udoh made two free throws to pull the Bears within a point, then dumped in a one-handed shot over Jorge Brian Diaz to put the Bears up 54-53.

Acy grabbed a big rebound after Jeter missed a 3-pointer, got fouled and made a free throw, then stuffed Jeter as he tried to launch a long shot at the buzzer.

"Coach always tells me to stay down on the shooter and close out. We work on that all the time," Acy said. "I stayed disciplined and stayed down and got it."

The Huskers, who tied a school record with just three turnovers, shot a season-low 32 percent and were outrebounded 39-28.

"I told the team that effort is one thing, and we're giving it," Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said. "You have to make baskets. In the last 1:30, we had three different things called and we broke down on all of them."

Baylor shot just 40 percent, and its 55 points were a season low.

"As much as we wanted to play a faster tempo, Doc did a good job in keeping it (slow)," Drew said. "We had 55 points. I don't know if we shot that low all season from the field, so we played against a good defense if we're doing that."

Udoh scored a game-winning basket for the second time this season. He hit a buzzer-beater in November to beat Hartford 71-69.

"Coach has confidence in me," Udoh said. "I took the ball and went up with the shot. It felt good when I shot it. This is one of those games that tested our toughness. It's up there with the best, toughest games we've played this year."

Baylor trailed 27-23 after a sloppy first half in which it shot 35 percent, committed seven turnovers and had several easy rebounds slip away. The Bears made just one field goal in the last 11 minutes of the half.

Nebraska wasn't any better, shooting 34.4 percent but with only one turnover.

The Huskers are off to their worst Big 12 start since the 2002-03 team opened 1-11. Their only conference win was Jan. 30 against Oklahoma.

"We're last in the Big 12, so we have this big burden on our back," Holley said. "We're not matching people's toughness. Without that, people just think we're soft, so they're going straight at us. We just let them do it. If we don't knock someone on their butt, or give 'em one hard foul just to let them know we're here, they're going to continue to do it."