Bears topple TCU in Fort Worth

No. 34 forward Cory Jefferson dunks the ball during the match against TCU on Saturday evening, Jan. 12, 2013, in the Ferrell Center. The Bears defeated the Horned Frogs 51-40. Travis Taylor | Lariat Photographer

MBB vs TCUBy Daniel Hill

The Baylor Bears defeated the TCU Horned Frogs 82-56 on Saturday in Fort Worth. The Bears improved to 5-1 in Big 12 Conference play while TCU remained winless in conference with a 0-7 record.

The Bears jumped out to a 13-3 lead with 13:28 remaining in the first half and quickly extinguished TCU’s hopes of earning its first conference win. By half time, the Bears held a strong 43-26 lead and cruised in the second half to earn an easy victory.

Baylor senior point guard Pierre Jackson led all scorers with 20 points and was four of seven shooting from behind the three-point line. Jackson also had five assists and three rebounds.

Freshman center Isaiah Austin had 18 points and six rebounds. The Bears starting five of Jackson, junior guard Brady Heslip, senior guard A.J. Walton, junior forward Cory Jefferson and Austin were all perfect from the free-throw line shooting a combined 10 for 10 from the charity stripe.

Freshman forward Rico Gathers scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds to earn a double-double. Gathers has struggled from the free throw line this season but showed improvement today by shooting seven of ten on foul shots.

Junior guard Gary Franklin was four for four on three point shots for 12 points.

The Bears next game is against Oklahoma at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the Ferrell Center. Oklahoma is 13-5 overall and 4-2 the Big 12 Conference.