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Baylor barely remains unbeaten, continues historic start

Dec 29, 2011 - 6:30 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - On a bad day for unbeatens, Baylor remained unscathed in what is quickly becoming a historic season.

Pierre Jackson's uncontested layup with 28.8 seconds to play led sixth-ranked Baylor past No. 15 Mississippi State, 54-52, in a hard-fought affair at American Airlines Center.

Jackson paced Baylor with 14 points, Quincy Miller chipped in with 12 and Brady Heslip donated 11 for the Bears, who are 13-0 for the first time in school history. Perry Jones III contributed eight points and six boards on a night that saw other undefeated teams, Louisville and Indiana, fall from the dwindling list.

"This team really defended and rebounded tonight, and that is why we won shooting only 21 percent," said Baylor head coach Scott Drew. "Mississippi State is a great team and I think everyone realizes their potential the rest of the year."

Renardo Sidney and Jalen Steele each scored 10 points for Mississippi State (12-2), which settled for Rodney Hood's forced jumper that was partially blocked in the final seconds.

"Good games always come down to a play here or there," said Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury. "That is what this game came down to. We missed some shots and left too many free throws on the line. We also turned the ball over some at critical times."

Baylor jumped out to a 14-9 lead behind six straight on a Quincy Acy three- point play and a trey from Jackson. Mississippi State tallied the next eight, striking a blow back at the Bears with some transition work and a three- pointer by Jalen Steele.

The Bears led by as many as six points on two separate occasions over the remainder of the half, but the Bulldogs scored the final five points to enter the locker room down just 34-33.

The teams continued to feel each other out during the opening minutes of the second half with neither leading by more than four. Dee Bost's jumper followed by Acy's slam squared the contest at 50-50 with just under six minutes to go.

Tough defensive possessions were the popular flavor over the final stretch as scoring was tough to come by. Arnett Moultrie put the Bulldogs in front 52-50 on a jumper with 3:20 to play then Baylor tied it and eventually went ahead on Jackson's uncontested layup with 28.8 ticks left.

Out of a timeout, Hood ended up with the ball at the top of the circle, took one dribble and was partially blocked by Walton. The ball was punched forward by a Bear and the seconds ticked off the clock to zero.

Game Notes

Heslip scored all 11 of his points in the first half...Acy had eight rebounds and A.J. Walton six, as Baylor held a 40-32 rebounding edge...Baylor won despite making just 34.5 percent of its shots...Baylor beat Mississippi State for the first time in six meetings.