Baylor makes 2nd straight first-round exit from NCAA tourney
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Baylor entered the NCAA Tournament hoping to wipe away the raw feelings from its first-round exit a year ago on a last-second shot.
It left with another heartbreaking loss.
Taurean Prince scored 28 points, but the fifth-seeded Bears were unable to stop Makai Mason and lost 79-75 to Yale on Thursday. Mason had a career-high 31 points, including six of the Bulldogs' final nine points.
Baylor (22-12) lost its tournament opener last season on a last-second 3-pointer in Georgia State's memorable victory.
"I thought Yale did a great job in the second half making things tough for us to score," Bears coach Scott Drew said. "We only shot 38 percent. But I thought Mason really controlled the game. We had a difficult time matching him."
Johnathan Motley added 15 points and seven rebounds for Baylor, which shot 44 percent from the field.
The Bears kept pace with an energized Yale team in the first half, trailing by five at the break. They quickly tied the game in the opening minutes of the second half, but were also dominated inside and trailed by as many as 13 with about seven minutes to play.
"We just got outrebounded and they played harder than us the whole 40 minutes," Prince said.
Yale (23-6) earned its first NCAA Tournament victory. It comes in its first appearance since 1962.
Justin Sears scored 18 points for the Bulldogs, and Brandon Sherrod finished with 10.
"This was bigger than us, and we wanted to do it for all the Yale faithful out there," Sears said. "It's great right now. I don't think it's really hit us how big this is yet."
Expelled Yale captain Jack Montague, dismissed last month because of a sexual assault allegation, was in the stands. He was present as a fan and sat across from the Yale bench.
Yale will play No. 4 seed Duke on Saturday.
Yale played a chunk of the second half without Sears and Sherrod after both picked up their fourth fouls. Both returned with just over four minutes to play.
Even after their return, Baylor kept eating away at the Bulldogs' lead and eventually closed to 76-75.
Baylor applied full-court pressure on the inbounds play, but Yale got a long pass into Nick Victor, who was fouled with 6.8 seconds left.
Victor connected on the first, but air-balled the second attempt. Baylor got the ball into Lester Medford. He slipped on his way to the basket, turning it over.
"I think the biggest thing anyone can mistake is where someone, what conference, what school, whatever, that's what makes March Madness March Madness," Drew said. "It's not who's the best team four out of seven games like the NBA. It's who's best for that 40 minutes. Yale was better than us today for 40 minutes, and that's why they won this game."
TIP-INS
Yale: The win gave the Bulldogs their most wins since 1906-07, when the team won 30 games.
Baylor: The Bears were outrebounded by the Bulldogs 36-32. ... Baylor's last NCAA Tournament win was in 2014.
UP NEXT
Yale plays Duke on Saturday.
Baylor's season is finished.
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The AP's college basketball page: www.collegebasketball.ap.org
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