Nov. 4, 2003
Final Stats
WACO, Texas (AP) - Baylor opened its basketball season under first-year coach Scott Drew with an 83-73 exhibition win over Raiders Select, an Australian touring team, at the Ferrell Center on Tuesday night.
Sophomore Tommy Swanson led the scoring for Baylor with 20 points while senior Terrance Thomas added 18. Brad Newley paced Raiders Select with 19 points, and Chris Novak contributed 15.
"Everyone always looks forward to the first exhibition game so you have a chance to see what you need to work on," Drew said. "Every day, there's always something to improve on; we don't look past any day that we're given."
The 33-year-old Drew, who served one year as head coach at Valparaiso, was named Baylor's head coach on August 22, two weeks after the resignation of former coach Dave Bliss. Bliss resigned following taped revelations he had initiated a cover-up to hide recruiting violations in the Bears basketball program.
The Bears wore a horizontal black stripe on the left shoulder of their uniforms in honor of Patrick Dennehy.
Two members of Baylor's anticipated roster, sophomore forward Corey Herring and junior forward Harvey Thomas, did not suit out for the season opener. The pair had not been cleared to play by the university compliance investigative committee according to committee member Bill Underwood, a Baylor law professor.
The Bears host the World SuperStars Nov. 12 in their final exhibition game before opening the regular season Nov. 22 against Texas Southern.
