By Greg DeVries
Sports Writer
Senior guard Pierre Jackson led the way for the No. 16 Baylor men’s basketball team as the Bears earned their first victory in the Charleston Classic after defeating Boston College 84-74 Thursday afternoon Jackson led all scorers with 31 points.
Including Jackson, four players reached double figures in points. Freshman center Isaiah Austin was among them, adding 16 points and nine rebounds on 7-12 shooting.
Senior guard A.J. Walton added 10 points, but it was his defense and ball handling down the stretch that really helped the Bears. Walton’s four steals and five rebounds helped limit Boston College’s possessions and put the Bears at the free throw line. With eight minutes left in the game, the Bears were only up by one point, 64-63.
Austin converted a three-point play after drawing the foul. Sophomore guard Brady Heslip made a three-pointer from the corner soon after. This was followed by a Walton layup and an Austin three pointer. The Eagles only managed a layup and a free throw during this span. Jackson sealed the deal at the end of the game. With just 1:16 left in the game, Jackson sank two free throws to put the Bears up by nine points. Jackson went 5-6 down the stretch.
Boston College sophomore forward Ryan Anderson finished the game with 25 points. In his first game of the season for the Eagles against Florida International, Anderson finished with 29 points, but was 11-14 from the free-throw line and grabbed 17 rebounds. Baylor held Anderson to just 5 rebounds. Baylor plays Colorado at 11:30 a.m. today in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament game.
