Baylor Advances, Will Face No. 3 Creighton

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Baylor Bears stayed cool as Nebraska went from ice cold, to warmer to melting down in the West Regional second round.

Baylor’s front court duo of center Isaiah Austin and forward Cory Jefferson combined for 29 points and 13 rebounds as the Bears knocked out the Cornhuskers, 74-60, on Friday at the AT&T Center.

Baylor will face No. 3 Creighton on Sunday.

Nebraska cut Baylor’s lead to nine early in the second half before Terran Petteway, the Cornhuskers leading scorer, picked up his fourth foul, prompting Nebraska coach Tim Miles to protest and earn a technical foul.

Austin hit his two free throws and guard Kenny Chery hit both technical foul free throws to boost Baylor’s lead back to 13.

Miles received his second technical foul and was ejected with 11:17 left.

Baylor guard Brady Heslip hit both of the technical foul free throws and forward

Rico Gathers hit two more, giving the Bears a 50-32 lead and firm control.

Jefferson scored 14 to lead Baylor (25-11), which advances to play the winner of the Creighton-Louisiana game.

Petteway scored 18 to lead Nebraska (19-13).

Nebraska made its first shot of the game when guard Shavon Shields went to the basket for a layup, but the Cornhuskers went more than nine minutes without another field goal.

Baylor pushed ahead, 12-3, during Nebraska’s early drought, then stretched the lead to 13 when guard Gary Franklin hit a 3-pointer with 1:17 left in the first half.

Nebraska’s dismal shooting continued as the Cornhuskers made only 23 percent of their shots from the field and 4-of-9 free throws.

Franklin led Baylor with seven points in the first half, although the Bears shot only 33 percent from the field and missed the opportunity to stretch out to a bigger lead.