Baylor
Texas
Bears Topped By No. 24 Texas, 69-63
1/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 26, 2002
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
WACO, Texas (AP) - With a dominating inside performance, No. 24 Texas made the most of a perfect bounce-back opponent.
Deginald Erskin scored 15 points, including the final go-ahead basket when he tipped in a missed free throw, as the Longhorns (14-5, 5-1 Big 12) bounced back from their first conference loss with a 69-63 win at Baylor on Saturday night.
"We have a fine margin for error, and that doesn't include getting too far behind on the backboard," Baylor coach Dave Bliss said. "That was a product of Texas' ability."
The Longhorns bounced back from Wednesday night's 80-74 loss to Texas A&M that ended a six-game winning streak. Texas has won all nine games against Baylor (12-7, 2-4) under fourth-year coach Rick Barnes.
Erskin tipped in a missed free throw with 14 minutes left to make it 45-44, and the Longhorns never trailed again.
Baylor had just taken its only lead of the second half after a 9-0 run capped by Wendell Greenleaf's 3-pointer that made it 44-42 with 14:25 left. The Bears, who trailed 37-30 at halftime, didn't stay ahead long.
At the other end, Fredie Williams was fouled and made his first free throw. When he missed the second, Erskin tapped it right into the basket.
"I was getting the ball inside and I was able to contribute," said Erskin, who had four offensive rebounds and was 7-of-10 shooting.
The Longhorns had a 50-38 rebounding advantage and outscored Baylor 36-8 inside the paint. James Thomas had 16 rebounds for Texas and T.J. Ford had nine rebounds to go with his seven assists.
"T.J. did an unbelievable job," Barnes said. "T.J. did a great job of getting the ball down the floor and making quick decisions. His plays at the end were the difference of the game."
Baylor missed two shots after Erskin's tip-in, and Ford passed inside to Williams. The teams traded baskets before Ford's assist to Erskin for a slam dunk and a 51-46 lead with 12:09 left.
The Bears got within one point twice after that, the last at 57-56 on Kenny Taylor's 3-pointer with 6:16 left. But Ford did it again, fighting a defender and a leg cramp to dish the ball to Thomas for an inside shot.
Brandon Mouton added 16 points and Royal Ivey had 12 for Texas, which owns a 139-75 lead in the series that dates to 1906 and is the longest for both schools.
Thomas, who had averaged 13.6 points the previous seven games, scored just five points on 2-of-12 shooting but dominated on the boards.
"He's just a rebounding machine," Bliss said. "Every coach tells his recruiters to get one of those."
Greenleaf and Lawrence Roberts both had 17 points for Baylor, which has lost four of five. Roberts also has 14 rebounds.
Baylor scored the game's first four points and had its largest lead six minutes in when Roberts hit a free throw to make it 14-9.
The Longhorns took their first lead at 17-16 on Erskin's turnaround jumper. After Lucas made two free throws, Ford passed to Mouton for a one-handed slam and a free throw and Texas didn't trail again until Greenleaf hit the 3-pointer for Baylor in the second half.
