Baylor
Texas Blue Chip (exhib.)
Men's Hoops Drops Exhibition Opener
11/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2001
WACO, Texas - The Baylor men's basketball team got off to a rocky start to the 2001 season, losing its exhibition opener Saturday night at the Ferrell Center to the Texas Bluechips, 87-84.
Poor shooting percentages did in the Bears, Baylor shot just 34.9 percent from the field, 24.3 percent on 3-pointers and 65.4 percent on free throws for the night. In contrast, the Bluechips, a traveling semi-pro team, shot 43.7 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc.
"This gives us a starting point, and it's similar to the starting point we had last year when we played the Houston Superstars (an 82-79 loss), which is the same team we play Tuesday," Baylor head coach Dave Bliss said.
Neither team was able to put together a sustained run, as the lead flip-flopped back and forth all evening. The Bears led at the half, 34-31, but the Bluechips shot 11-of-19 on 3-pointers in the second half and took advantage of Baylor's shooting struggles to claim the win.
The Bluechips' Larry Jackson led all scorers with 24 points, while Demetrius Smith of the Bluechips had a game-high 12 rebounds. Logan Kosmalski led Baylor with 17 points, Chad Elsey had 11 rebounds to lead the Bears.
Baylor outrebounded the Bluechips 59-41 (including a 24-6 advantage on the offensive glass).
"No doubt, we're in a position where I think we've got some pretty good post play. We rebounded really well, we just didn't turn the rebounds into baskets," Bliss said.
The visitors played the entire game with just six players. Two of those players (Jackson and Jeff Clarkson) fouled out during the second half, but were allowed to continue playing since the game was an exhibition match.
Baylor continues the exhibition season Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Ferrell Center against the Houston Superstars. The regular season begins at home Nov. 17 against Hardin-Simmons, game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.
