Delayed Season Opener Is a 79-61 Loss for Baylor

Baylor Coach Scott Drew says he knows it’s going to be a long season even with a shortened schedule.

He got another reminder Wednesday night when his Bears lost their season debut, 79-61, to Texas Tech.

Baylor was prohibited from playing any nonconference games this season as part of NCAA penalties for numerous violations under former coach Dave Bliss. The violations were discovered after former player Patrick Dennehy was murdered by a former teammate in the summer of 2003.

“Obviously with a young team, the more time the better and we don’t have a lot of time,” Drew said. “It gives us a stepping stone in finding out what we need to improve.”

Texas Tech’s Jarrius Jackson scored 22 points, and some opening-game jitters spoiled Baylor’s first game in 307 days. Baylor has lost 15 in a row.

Texas Tech Coach Bob Knight said Baylor was under “a tremendous handicap” coming into the game.

“No matter how much they work at practice and tried to simulate playing on the road, it can’t be done,” he said. “You never know what you can do or can’t do until you play a little bit.”

Texas Tech (9-7, 1-1 Big 12) built a 17-point lead twice in the second half. Baylor used an 11-4 run to cut the first one to 51-43. But Texas Tech answered quickly, using an 11-2 run to go up, 62-45, with 6:52 left.

Martin Zeno scored 21 points for the Red Raiders.

Aaron Bruce, the nation’s top scoring freshman last season, scored 20 points for Baylor.