Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor
By Greg DeVries
Sports Writer
It was the last home game of the season as the No. 10 Baylor Bears put away the Texas Tech Red Raiders 77-48.
The story of the night was not the significant margin of victory. It wasn’t the Bears gaining position in the Big 12 standings. The story was sending away the most winning senior class in Baylor basketball history: Fred Ellis, Anthony Jones, and Quincy Acy.
“To leave with the record of the winningest class means that not only were they good players, but they were…good leaders,” head coach Scott Drew said. “Baylor nation respected what they accomplished.”
From the senior presentations before the game until the players walked off of the court, the crowd of 7,164 rallied behind the seniors and the team much more than usual.
Jones was the first of the senior class to open up the scoring on senior night. He finished with 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting. This game marked Jones’ 33rd start with the team.
“The fans [have] shown us so much love throughout the years,” Jones said. “[The 95 wins] makes me want to get five more to get to 100.”
Acy finished this game as he did 70 times in his career — with double figure scoring. His 12 points moved to 12th place on Baylor’s all-time scoring list with 1,274 passing Doug Brandt.
“Obviously its emotional playing my last game in the Ferrell Center, but I feel like we have a long way to go in the season,” Acy said.
Acy’s final play at home was a powerful post move followed by a dunk. After a timeout was called, Acy danced to himself while the crowd was on their feet. It was a fitting way to for Acy to end his final game at the Ferrell Center.
With 9:15 to go in the second half, chants of “we want Fred” echoed against the golden dome and green seats. Ellis was waiting at the scorer’s table ready to check in just a few seconds later. Then, with 6:35 to go in the game, Ellis sank two free-throws to the delight of the crowd.
After the game, Ellis joked about one day telling his kids a story about the time that everybody at the Ferrell Center chanted his name as he put up incredible stats. While Ellis actually only finished with 2 points and 1 rebound, it was the crowd behind him that made this day memorable.
Sophomore Perry Jones III finished the game with 15 points and 10 rebounds on 5 of 8 shooting. This marked his sixth double-double this season.
“We played hard like we always do, but we didn’t guard like we needed to,” Texas Tech head coach Billy Gillispie said before he acknowledged the success of Baylor’s senior class. “My hat’s off to them,” he added.
The Bears will next head to Iowa State to take on the Cyclones at 6 p.m. Saturday in what will be a battle for third place in the Big 12. In Baylor’s previous meeting with Iowa State, the Bears took the win 79-64.
