2011-12 Season Begins with Moonlight Madness
10/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2011
Photo Gallery | Meet The Press: Moonlight Madness
WACO, Texas - Baylor's 2011-12 season officially began Friday evening at "Moonlight Madness" in front of more than 5,000 fans at the Ferrell Center. Baylor was one of 11 schools across the nation featured as part of ESPNU's Midnight Madness special, which aired from 8 p.m.-midnight CDT on Friday.
"Anytime you can be on national TV and show off what a great university Baylor is, you definitely want to do that," head coach Scott Drew said. "And Friday night was a great opportunity to showcase all that Baylor has to offer."
The event, which lasted approximately an hour and 10 minutes, featured an opening dance routine by the entire Baylor men's basketball team and Baylor Spirit Squad. Following the opening introductions, six Baylor players and their six student teammates - along with women's basketball players Terran Condrey and Odyssey Sims - competed in the 3-Point Contest.
In what could be termed an upset, the duo of Anthony Jones and Whitney Wakefield won the 3-Point Contest, defeating the team of Brady Heslip and Martin Breyer by a narrow 13-12 margin. With the win, Wakefield won free textbooks for the spring 2012 semester.
"Our players and coaching staff were very pleased with the tremendous turnout," Drew said. "It's great to have so many fans attend Moonlight Madness especially with the (Heart O' Texas State) Fair, Fall Break and football on the road at Texas A&M."
Junior Pierre Jackson, who stands at 5-foot-10, posted a perfect score, getting five 10s from the judges, to win the dunk contest over freshman Deuce Bello. Four former Baylor basketball players served as judges for the dunk contest - Mamadou Diene, Pat Nunley, Terry Black and Ekpe Udoh. Baylor women's basketball star Brittney Griner served as the fifth judge.
Concluding the event was a 20-minute scrimmage. Led by Heslip's 13 points, the Gold team won 47-32. Anthony Jones led the Green team with 12.
Baylor opens the 2011-12 season Nov. 1 with an exhibition against Abilene Christian, followed by its regular-season opener Nov. 11 vs. Texas Southern. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets may do so online, by calling 254-710-1000 or at the Baylor Athletic Ticket Office at the Ferrell Center. To date, Baylor has sold more than 5,000 season tickets, an increase of more than 500 from the 2010-11 season.
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