No. 21 Baylor Beats Hartford
Updated 9:50 AM CST, Wed, Dec 24, 2008
No. 21 Baylor 74, Hartford 59
Curtis Jerrells recorded the fourth triple-double in Baylor history and the ninth ever in the Big 12 Conference as No. 21 Baylor survived its second scare in as many games and beat Hartford 74-59 on Monday night.
Jerrells had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for Baylor (10-1). He secured the statistical feat with an assist to Kevin Rogers, who made a layup and was fouled by Hartford's Andres Torres with 41 seconds left in the game.
"(Teammate) Henry (Dugat) was close to a triple-double a couple of games ago and he didn't pass the ball ahead," Jerrells said. "I made sure Kevin was close enough to the basket where he didn't have to dribble."
Jerrells' triple-double was the first at Baylor since Brian Skinner of the Los Angeles Clippers had 24 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Eastern Washington on Nov. 29, 1997.
Skinner notched two triple-doubles and former NBA player David Wesley -- now a student manager for the Baylor team and taking classes to complete his degree -- recorded the other one.
"It was great see Curtis Jerrells get a triple-double," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "I think Kevin Rogers had the play of the game to get him that assist with the nice and-one. Kevin, as a freshman and sophomore, might not have gotten that and-one."
Dugat scored 16 points, Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn added 14 each and Rogers had 11.
Jaret von Rosenberg's 19 points led Hartford (4-8) while Genesis Maciel had 13 points.
Dugat hit a jumper in the lane with 8:17 to play to give Baylor a 56-51 lead.
On Saturday, Dugat became the 21st Baylor player to scored 1,000 points.
"I think it's an accomplishment to be part of that," Dugat said. "Not too many people who come through here get in that club. I'm grateful for it."
With the score tied at 10, Baylor went on a 13-3 run that included 3-point baskets by Carter, Dunn and Jerrells to take a 23-13 lead with 7:55 remaining in the first half.
Another 3 by Dugat and two free throws by Jerrells put Baylor ahead 28-15 with 4:38 to play in the first half. A 3-pointer and a layup by Drake U'u sparked a Hartford rally that cut the Baylor lead to 31-26 with less than a minute to play. Jerrells then hit one of two from the line with 6.6 seconds left to give Baylor a 32-26 halftime lead.
Baylor opened the second half on a 7-0 run before two layups by Morgan Sabia keyed a Hartford run that cut the deficit to 39-32 with 16:37 left.
Hartford pulled within three points twice in the second half but couldn't get any closer. Von Rosenberg could have pulled the Hawks within two but missed a free throw with 9:15 to play.
Sabia's two free throws with 8:02 remaining left Hartford down 56-53. But a 3-pointer by Carter and consecutive layups by Jarrell sparked a rally that ended with the Bears up 71-59. Dugat hit four free throws in a 17-second span during the run.
Baylor got the lead back to double digits as consecutive layups from Jerrells put the Bears up 63-53 with 4:40 left. But Hartford cut that lead in half on one possession. Michael Turner hit a 3-pointer from the corner and Carter was called for a foul on von Rosenberg, who made both free throws.
The game was a homecoming of sorts for von Rosenberg, who was born in Waco and lived there until he was in the second grade. Between 40 and 50 members of his family were at the game.
"There are four generations of my family in Waco," von Rosenberg said. "I was ready to come down here and play."
Copyright Associated Press
First Published: Dec 24, 2008 9:40 AM CST
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