No. 3 Baylor tops No. 6 West • Virginia in overtime to win Big 12.
Coach Scott Drew jumped on Mark Vital’s back after Baylor clinched the Big 12 championship, pointed a finger to the sky, then raced off the court ahead of his players to prepare for an even more raucous celebration.
“I was able to beat them into the locker room, get the water ready and get them,” Drew said. “And I got the COLD water ready for them, too.”
Jared Butler scored 25 points before fouling out, Davion Mitchell hit the goahead basket in overtime and the third-ranked Bears beat No. 6 West Virginia 9489 Tuesday for the Bears’ first Big 12 regular-season title.
Visiting Baylor (19-1, 11-1 Big 12) bounced back in a big way from its only loss of the season at No. 13 Kansas on Saturday. The Bears struggled in their two previous games coming off a threeweek layoff because of COVID-19 issues in the program.
After managing just 58 points against the Jayhawks, Baylor maintained its energy and scoring touch until the very end against the Mountaineers (17-7, 10-5).
“Probably the number one moment ever at Baylor,” said Butler, who had fouled out in overtime only to run back onto the court after it was over to hug every teammate in sight.
Drew, whose 18 seasons at Baylor have been spent watching other teams, mostly Kansas, take home the title, joked that he jumped on fifth-year senior Vital’s back because “Mark’s the only one that’s been at Baylor longer than me.”
Butler finished with 25 points. Mitchell scored four of Baylor’s 13 points in overtime and finished with 20.
Taz Sherman came off the bench to score a careerhigh 26 points for the Mountaineers, but they managed just one field goal in overtime.
No. 4 Illinois 76, No. 2 Michigan 53: Andre Curbelo scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half, and Illinois (19-6, 15-4 Big Ten) dismantled Michigan with a smothering defensive performance, routing the host Wolverines (18-2, 13-2). Illinois again played without injured star Ayo Dosunmu.
No. 8 Alabama 70, Auburn 58: Jaden Shackelford scored 23 points, made five 3-pointers and helped host Alabama (20-6, 15-2 Southeastern Conference) quash a second-half threat and beat Auburn (12-14, 6-11).
No. 12 Arkansas 101, South Carolina 73: Moses Moody tied his career high with 28 points and visiting Arkansas beat South Carolina (6-13, 4-11) for its 10th straight win in the Southeastern Conference. The Razorbacks (20-5, 12-4) did it with the long ball, hitting 15 3-pointers.
No. 15 Texas 81, Iowa State 67: Kai Jones came off the bench to score a seasonhigh 17 points and lead four Texas (15-7, 9-6 Big 12) players in double figures, and the Longhorns beat host Iowa State (2-19, 0-16).
No. 18 Texas Tech 69, TCU 49: Kyler Edwards scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half to help Texas Tech take control, and the Red Raiders (16-8, 8-7 Big 12) rolled past visiting TCU (1211, 5-9).
No. 23 Purdue 73, No. 25 Wisconsin 69: Freshman Zach Edey scored a careerhigh 21 points and Jaden Ivey added 18 to help host Purdue (17-8, 12-6 Big Ten) hold on against Wisconsin (16-10, 10-9).
Mountain West
Fresno State 67, Boise State 64: Deon Stroud posted 16 points and six rebounds, and Isaiah Hill capped the scoring on a goahead 3-pointer with 1:10 left as visiting Fresno State (1110, 9-10 Mountain West) edged past Boise State (18-7, 14-6).