Baylor Bears Return to the Ferrell Center, Rout Texas Tech Red Raiders

Scott Drew’s Baylor Bears proved why they still belong in the top-25 in their latest defeat of Pat Knight’s Texas Tech Red Raiders.

The Bears routed the Red Raiders on Wednesday night at Waco’s Ferrell Center, cruising to an 88-70 victory en route to win number 20 of the season.

“I was very pleased with the second half,” Drew told Baylor’s official athletic site. “I thought the guys came out for that 12 minute spurt and played as well as we did all season. Things were really clicking on all cylinders.

“We are very excited about that accomplishment from the standpoint that [20 wins] is kind of the benchmark for a college program. When you get three straight it shows a consistent program. This group has definitely worked hard for that and deserves it.”

LaceDarius Dunn led Baylor with 30 points in 30 minutes, along with four rebounds, two steals and a block.

“It was a little chilly in the gym. I was a little stiff, so I was just trying to get loose,” Dunn said. “I knew it was going to come, though. I was just taking my time out there and taking what they were giving me.

“In the second half I knew I had to turn it up and help my team out...so I came out and just played ball. It all started in the first half taking it to the free throw line.”

Junior Ekpe Udoh also played a vital role in Baylor’s 20th win of the season, coming up one block shy of a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks.

“I wanted it bad, but before everybody found out that I had nine blocks we were playing very aggressive on defense,” Udoh said. “When they found out, we allowed [Texas Tech] to start making bucket after bucket. To be the best of the best you can’t allow that to happen...We don’t need to be in any of those situations.”

Regardless of Udoh being one block shy of another BU triple-double, the Bears will gladly take the win as they hit the road to face Oklahoma State tomorrow afternoon in Stillwater.

“He [Udoh] didn’t get the triple-double tonight but he did a lot of good things for us tonight,” Baylor senior guard Tweety Carter said. “Though he didn’t shoot the ball well early, late in the game he showed his offensive ability. Anytime that you can have that it is big for our team.”

Come tip-off early tomorrow afternoon in Oklahoma, let’s hope the Bears can keep the ball rolling the right direction as the Bears battle the Cowboys in yet another Big 12 fight to the finish…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]