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Texas A&M-Baylor Preview

Feb 24, 2010 - 12:22 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Texas A&M (19-7) at Baylor (20-6), 9:00 p.m. EDT

In the long history between Texas A&M and Baylor, only once have they met as ranked opponents.

Though it will be hard to top what happened the last time, the second such occasion will take place Wednesday night as the No. 22 Aggies and No. 24 Bears meet at the Ferrell Center.

Texas A&M (19-7, 8-4 Big 12) is looking to sweep the season series from Baylor (20-6, 7-5) for the first time since the 2006-07 season. The Aggies overcame a 12-point deficit to beat the Bears 78-71 on Feb. 6.

The Aggies weren't ranked at the time, but they have since moved into the Top 25, winning five of their last six. Wednesday will be the second time in 201 meetings that both teams will be ranked, the other coming Jan. 23, 2008, when Baylor prevailed 116-110 in five overtimes.

Bryan Davis led Texas A&M with 30 points and 14 rebounds in that defeat, and he keyed the win earlier this month over Baylor with 22 points and eight boards. He's been held to a combined 11 points on 3-of-15 shooting in the last two games, but Davis has reached double figures in rebounds in three straight.

The Bears won that five-overtime thriller despite LaceDarius Dunn going 2 of 14 from the field. He's currently second in the Big 12 with 18.9 points per game, including 23 in the win at Texas A&M.

Dunn is coming off one of his worst shooting performances of the season, going 5 of 17 and scoring 14 points in an 82-75 loss at Oklahoma State on Saturday.

It was the most points Baylor had allowed all season.

"Obviously you always want to feel a little better defensively, but they made some tough shots," coach Scott Drew said. "We had a hand up in several of those shots."

While the Bears had a three-game win streak snapped, the Aggies won a third consecutive road game.

In Saturday's ugly 60-56 victory at Iowa State, Texas A&M shot below 40 percent for a second straight game and blew a late 10-point lead before beating a team that is second-to-last in the Big 12.

"You never know when your next win is coming in this league, so we've got to get better," coach Mark Turgeon said.

Donald Sloan shot 4 of 16 and scored 12 points, nearly six below his team-leading average, and Texas A&M was held below its season average of 72.1 points for a third straight contest.

Saturday marked the Aggies' fifth straight game decided by seven points or less, and their last three road wins were by a combined nine points.

"You have a different feeling when you win a close one," Sloan said. "It's a thin line between losing in the Big 12 - whether it's three points or whatever - and we've been able to be on the other side of that fine line."

Sloan had 20 points in the last matchup with Baylor, but B.J. Holmes was the star of that game after hitting three crucial 3-pointers late in the second half.

The Aggies have won nine of the last 11 meetings, but lost 72-68 on Feb. 14, 2009, in their most recent trip to Waco.

The Bears are 13-1 at home this season, with the only loss to then-No. 11 Kansas State by two points Jan. 26.