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Gonzaga holds off Baylor

Dec 29, 2012 - 7:32 AM Spokane, WA (Sports Network) - Kevin Pangos poured in a season-high 31 points on 7-of-10 shooting from 3-point range as 13th-ranked Gonzaga held off Baylor, 94-87, on Friday.

Kelly Olynyk added 21 points and Elias Harris poured in 17 points to go with seven rebounds for the Bulldogs (12-1), who improved to 7-1 at home this season.

"I was just trying to be aggressive and things opened up," Pangos remarked. "Each game is going to be different in what I have to do for the team."

Pierre Jackson had 26 points and six assists, and Isaiah Austin added 20 points and eight boards for the Bears (8-4), who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

"That's one thing that we have, a young front line," Baylor coach Scott Drew admitted. "Their veteran guys did a good job of getting some good position and also picking up some fouls on them."

The Bears jumped out to an 8-2 lead with 2 1/2 minutes played following Isaiah Austin's jumper, but the Bulldogs scored the next five points to make it 8-7 a but later.

Cory Jefferson's dunk put Baylor up 10-7 moments later, and the Bears led 22-16 with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half. Gonzaga, however, closed the half with a 22-11 run and led 38-33 at the break.

The Zags saw their lead reach double figures at 54-44 following Olynyk's layup, but Baylor was able to pull within 56-50 when Jefferson slammed one home at the 14:00 mark.

A Pangos trey capped a 17-14 sequence to put Gonzaga up 73-64, but the Bears were able to pull within 80-74 with 5:21 to go. Pangos drilled a triple and Sam Dower split a pair from the line to make it a 10-point game at 84-74 before stretching the cushion to 89-77 with 2:21 showing.

Jackson's three-point play made it 89-80 eight seconds later, but Baylor couldn't get closer than seven the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Pangos' career-high for points in 33 ... The Bulldogs shot 50 percent (9- for-18) from 3-point range and 52.5 percent (31-for-59) from the field ... Jefferson finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for the Bears.