Baylor wins in five OTs, 116-110

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Baylor waited 39 years to get back into the top 25. Then the Bears had to wait some more, enduring five overtimes to get their first win as a ranked team.

Curtis Jerrells scored a career-high 36 points, including 11 in the fifth overtime, to lead No. 25 Baylor to a 116-110 victory over No. 18 Texas A&M; on Wednesday night.

Baylor (16-2, 4-0 Big 12 Conference) won its fifth game in a row and first since entering the rankings Monday for the first time since 1969. It broke a 15-game home winning streak for Texas A&M; and was the Aggies’ third loss in a row.

Three free throws by Jerrells gave Baylor a 106-103 lead in the fifth overtime. Dominique Kirk got Texas A&M; (15-4, 1-3) to within a point with a layup on the next possession.

Jerrells pushed the lead back to three with his steal and layup with about a minute left. Aaron Bruce added two free throws before a layup by Bryan Davis made it 110-107 with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Jerrells added four more free throws and LaceDarius Dunn chipped in two to secure the victory.

The small but vocal group of Baylor fans chanted “B-U!” incessantly as time ticked down in the final overtime and players jumped around wildly and hugged after the clock ran out.

The teams combined to shoot more than 100 free throws, with Baylor going 39 for 47 and Texas A&M; making 36 of 59.

The game lasted so long that even one of the referees got confused. In the break before the start of the fourth overtime, a referee approached a member of the media and asked if triple overtime was about to begin. When told it was four, he shook his head and walked off.