Texas Tech Athletics
Baylor
Red Raiders Victorious Against Baylor, 79-61
January 11, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Jarrius Jackson scored 22 points and Texas Tech and some opening-game jitters spoiled Baylor's season debut, 79-61 on Wednesday night.
The Bears' rough edges - even after an NCAA-record 89 days of preseason practice - were apparent in their 15th straight loss. While playing defense, Baylor's Curtis Jerrells had his back to the play and didn't see the ball come loose. It rolled through his legs into the hands of a Tech player. Later, Henry Dugat got careless on a breakaway and missed a dunk.
The Bears couldn't hold onto rebounds and repeatedly scrambled for the ball on the floor beneath Tech's basket. Tech outrebounded the Bears 45-26 and Baylor got only eight second-chance points. The Bears were 23-of-60 from the field.
Tech (9-7, 1-1 Big 12) built a 17-point lead twice in the second half. Baylor used an 11-4 run to cut the first one to 51-43. But Tech answered quickly, using an 11-2 run to go up 62-45 with 6:52 remaining.
Martin Zeno scored 21 points for the Red Raiders, while John Plefka added 12 and Dior Lowhorn had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Aaron Bruce, the nation's top scoring freshman last season, scored 20 points for Baylor and Tim Bush added 12.
Zeno started the game 1-for-6 from the field but he had nine points as Texas Tech took a 37-24 halftime lead.
Former player Carlton Dotson pleaded guilty last year and is serving a 35-year sentence for the death of Dennehy, who was missing for six weeks before his body was found. The death sparked a scandal that led to Bliss' resignation.
In a letter to Dotson on Tuesday, a judge denied the ex-Baylor player's motion to appeal
In addition to scholarship reductions and other self-imposed penalties, the Bears didn't participate in the 2004 Big 12 tournament. Wednesday's game came 307 days after they were eliminated from the Big 12 tournament on March 10.
The NCAA considered a full-season ban before deciding to cut nonconference games, thought to be an unprecedented move.
