Baylor outlasts Texas 86-79 in overtime, Felix with career game

WACO – Baylor outdueled Texas in overtime at The Ferrell Center 86-79 to improve to 1-0 in conference play.  The Bears took advantage of efficient offensive rebounding and plentiful free throw opportunities in the win, as head Coach Scott Drew missed the contest while serving the first of a two-game school imposed ban for the recruit texting scandal uncovered last year.  Baylor’s Corey Joseph and Isaiah Austin each had double-doubles and Pierre Jackson scored 24 points in the win.  The Bears shot 35.9% from the field but scored 36 points from the free-throw line alone, while Texas only turned in 9 points on 14 free throws from the charity stripe.

Texas shot 44.6% from the field and freshman point guard Javan Felix led the Longhorns in scoring with a career high 26 points and 9 assists.  Instead of coming off the bench to score, Sheldon McClellan crafted a 21-point performance today as a starter.  Guard Julien Lewis scored 9 points but was limited today by an right ankle injury sustained in the game. Lewis continued to play through the injury but was noticeably hobbling up and down the court.  Still no word on the extent of the injury.

Texas trailed 40-31 at halftime and took the first lead of the game with 13:01 left in the second half on a Javan Felix jump shot.  The lead then changed a few times with Baylor maintaining it most of the time until the 2:59 mark when Sheldon McClellan tied the score at 66 with 2:59 left.  Baylor would make two free throws and Johnathan Holmes would monster-dunk before regulation play ended.

In overtime both Johnathan Holmes and Jaylen Bond fouled out and Baylor hit 10 free throws and scored 18 total points to seal the victory for the Bears.  The loss puts Texas at 8-6 on the season and 0-1 in Big 12 play.  Up next for Texas is West Virginia (7-6, 0-1) on January 9th.