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Baylor holds off WVU in OT

Dec 24, 2011 - 5:09 AM Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Pierre Jackson's trey sent the game into overtime, where No. 6 Baylor outlasted pesky West Virginia, 83-81, in the Las Vegas Classic title game.

Jackson finished with a team-high 23 points and hit a game-tying three- pointer with 27 seconds left in regulation, as the Bears moved to 12-0 on the year, matching their best start in school history.

Brady Heslip added 19 points in the narrow victory and Quincy Acy finished with 15 points and eight boards. Baylor remains one of six undefeated Division I teams, joining Indiana, Louisville, Missouri, Murray State and Syracuse.

The frenetic contest proved a preview of sorts for West Virginia, which announced in October that it will depart the Big East for the Big 12.

The Mountaineers (9-3), who entered with a five-game win streak, trailed by double-digits in the second half before reclaiming the lead on Darryl Bryant's free throws in the closing minutes of regulation. Bryant finished with 16 points, Jabarie Hinds had 18 and Kevin Jones notched game-highs of 28 points and 17 rebounds.

Baylor was up 40-33 at the break and led by as many as 10 in the second half before the Mountaineers battled back, tying the game, 69-69, on Bryant's three-pointer with 4 1/2 minutes to play.

Minutes later, Bryant was fouled attempting a corner trey and drained all three free throws to break a 71-71 tie. It marked the Mountaineers' first lead since late in the opening half.

They held possession and a 76-73 advantage with 34 seconds to play, forcing Baylor to foul. After Hinds missed the front end of a one-and-one, Dominique Rutledge grabbed the offensive rebound, but was called for a push-off.

The ball went to Baylor and Jackson calmly nailed a pull-up trey, sending the game into overtime.

The Bears led 83-78 in the extra session before Hinds hit a three with 1:38 left. But WVU missed two makeable shots in the final minute, as Gary Browne was off on a mid-range turnaround and Hinds' foul-line pull-up fell short at the buzzer.

Game Notes

Baylor closed the first half with a 21-5 run to take the lead...The Bears also began the 2000-01 season 12-0...This was the first meeting between the schools...Baylor coach Scott Drew earned his first-ever win over West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. Scott was previously 0-2 against Huggins.