April 5, 2021 Share
Nearly two decades ago, Scott Drew decided to leave his comfort zone at tiny Valparaiso for the scandal-plagued basketball program at Baylor, explaining to his father that there was nowhere for the Bears to go but up.
Now, they’re one win away from the top.
Led by Jared Butler and the rest of their brilliant backcourt, a defense that refused to give Houston an inch and a coach intent on making the most of his first trip to the Final Four, the Bears roared to a 78-59 victory Saturday night in their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament semifinals in 71 long years.
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Darron Cummings/AP INDIANAPOLIS Nearly two decades ago, Scott Drew decided to leave his comfort zone at tiny Valparaiso for the scandal-plagued basketball program at Baylor, explaining to his father that there was nowhere for the Bears to go but up. Now, they’re one win away from the top. Led by Jared Butler and the rest of their brilliant backcourt, a defense that refused to give Houston an inch, and a coach intent on making the most of his first trip to the Final Four, the Bears roared to a 78-59 victory Saturday night in their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament semifinals in 71 long years.
A strong surge against the Houston Cougars in the first half set the tone Saturday night, as Scott Drew s Baylor Bears earned their rightful spot in the national championship game in Indianapolis.
Scott Drew s Baylor Bears just keep pressing forward, securing spot in men s basketball title game
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Davion Mitchell is hyped after burying three to end first half (0:29)
Baylor s Davion Mitchell dials in a 3-pointer to end the first half that has him and his teammates fired up. (0:29)
INDIANAPOLIS By halftime of Baylor s 78-59 win over Houston in the men s basketball Final Four on Saturday, it was clear the two programs, one from the Big 12 and another from the American Athletic Conference, were operating on two different levels.
Baylor s 45-20 edge entering the break was the largest halftime lead in a Final Four game in 18 years and the fourth largest in Final Four history, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Marcus Sasser had scored 17 points at that juncture. The rest of the Cougars had combined to record just three by halftime.