ROUNDING UP CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1900 THE BAYLOR LARIAT VOL. 110 No. 34 TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 © 2010, Baylor University n Making it Final BU claims last-minute Elite 8 win Lady Bears clinch spot in Final Four beating Duke 51-48; With 33 blocks, Griner sets NCAA blocked-shot record BY CHRIS DERRETT make sure it went in,” Griner and Jordan Madden), remember SPORT S WRITER said. that offensive rebound because Baylor faced a 48-42 deficit it might have just cost you the MEMPHIS, TENN. — In with 3:47 remaining, and with game. And dang, if the one kid their fight for a spot in the Fi- its sub-35 percent shooting on doesn’t come back and make the nal Four, the Lady Bears held the night, the future appeared play of the game.” the lead over Duke for 45 sec- bleak. It looked worse when a Hayden lunged at Joy Cheek’s onds of the second half. It was Griner block became an offen- inbound pass and snatched it all they needed, as a seemingly sive rebound for the Blue Devils, away from the Blue Devils. She miraculous 51-48 comeback win who finished with 19 offensive found Jones open under the bas- punched Baylor’s ticket for San boards. But Duke could not con- ket, and Jones nailed a one-foot Antonio. vert and push the lead further. jumper, pulling Baylor to within Brittney Griner scored the Griner then fought for two one. Jasmine Thomas missed a last of her 15 points with 45 sec- free throws on the other end, 3-pointer for Duke, and Griffin onds left, spinning and flipping fouling out 6-foot-4 Krystal hauled in the rebound to set up the ball in for a 49-48 Baylor Thomas in the process. Kimetria Griner’s game-winner. lead. The Blue Devils missed a Hayden later drew two more After cutting down the nets, 3-pointer on its next possession, driving to the rim and hit both. Mulkey still could not believe and Melissa Jones sank two free On the next Duke inbound play, that her team was Final Four throws on the Lady Bears’ end Hayden stepped up to make bound. after an intentional foul. Duke’s what coach Kim Mulkey consid- “It was surreal,” Mulkey last desperation 3-pointer did ered the game-changing play. said. “I get to coach kids who not fall, and Kelli Griffin drib- “In the last timeout, we lost a believe in what we do. They al- bled the clock out to end the big offensive rebound,” Mulkey low me to get on them, they al- ASSOCI A TED PRESS game. said about being unable to re- low me to challenge them, and “I knew I had to get the ball bound Griner’s blocked ball. “I Brittney Griner celebrates Monday after beating Duke 51-48 in the NCAA Memphis Regional championship in the basket. I tried to get as told those two freshmen (Hayden see FOUR, pg. college basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. The Lady Bears advance on to the Final Four with the win. close to the rim as I could, and 6 No. 1 Duke ends Bears’ run Bears win record 28 games in season; Lomers, Carter play last Baylor game BY JUSTIN BAER With Baylor up 57-54 and 5:44 SPORT S EDITOR remaining on the clock, Scheyer drilled a wide-open 3-point bas- HOUSTON — What has been ket to tie the game. From there, one of the Bears’ most notable Smith hit two second-chance advantages this year became a 3-pointers, the latter of which substantial downfall in a season- came from his own missed free ending 78-71 defeat against top- throw rebounded by Thomas. seeded Duke University Sunday The four-point possession gave evening in the NCAA tourna- Duke a 64-61 lead, and on the ment South Regional finals at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Duke capitalized on sec- “ ond-chance opportunities and The toughest part grabbed 23 offensive rebounds of every season that led to 23 points, many of is always just the which came in critical situa- tions. Baylor entered the game thought that it’s with a plus-6.6 rebound mar- the last time gin, good for 12th in the nation, you’re going to get Check out The Lariat’s a chance to coach photo slide shows of the team, and BU’s Houston games the last chance www.baylorlariat.com they’re together.” Scott Drew Baylor head coach but against a physical Duke frontline, the Bears were out- rebounded 43-37. DA NIEL CERNERO | ST A FF PHOTOGR ap HER “I mean, they just went after ensuing drive, Scheyer splashed it. I can’t really explain it,” junior a 3-pointer to extend the Blue Ekpe Udoh said. “I don’t know. Devils’ lead, 67-61. Top: The Baylor men’s We just couldn’t keep them off “We needed to defend well basketball team huddles the glass.” and make shots (down the Sunday after No. 50 cen- Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer stretch),” said Quincy Acy, ter Josh Lomers picked became the beneficiary of many who finished with 12 points. up his fifth foul at Reliant of those offensive rebounds, “Scheyer got open off offensive Stadium in Houston. as players like Lance Thomas rebounds and kickouts, and we Lomers finished his (eight offensive rebounds) and should’ve put bodies on him. collegiate career as a Brian Zoubek (four offensive We got outrebounded on the member of the rebounds) often found the duo offensive glass, so that was the winningest senior class behind the 3-point line after re- major key.” in Baylor’s history. trieving boards. Smith, who was After Udoh made one of two named the region’s most out- free throws, the Blue Devils got Left: Former President standing player, finished with another 3-point possession, this George H.W. Bush and a game-high 29 points, while time from Thomas’ and-1 put- Baylor President-elect Scheyer contributed 20 points. back that gave Duke a 70-62 lead Ken Starr chat together Together, the guards made nine with 1:36 remaining. Sunday at Baylor’s game of 16 3-point baskets. A technical foul on Acy sent against Duke in their “(Give) credit to them. They Scheyer to the free-throw line, NCAA Elite 8 basketball game at Reliant Stadium came out, and they executed and his two charity shots gave in Houston. well,” senior point guard Tweety Duke its biggest lead of the Carter said. “They got kickouts game at 10 points. The Bears to great shooters. You know, it’s fought valiantly until the buzzer tough when you’re playing de- sounded, but the late Blue Devil fense for 30 seconds and they spurt was too overwhelming to get a kickout three. You know, they made big shots.” see BEARS, pg. 6 BA YLOR PHOTOGR ap HY | MA TTHEW MIN A RD VOL. 110 No. 34 www.BAYLORLARIAT.com © 2010, Baylor University THE BAYLOR LARIAT 2 TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 OPINION Thankful for sacrifices as season of chemistry, hope comes to an end Editorial Who would have thought that to be part of this program.” after losing three 1,000-point scor- While Carter helped bring a lot ers (Curtis Jerrells, Kevin Rogers alley-oop passes were messaged the Bears didn’t play a non-confer- of Baylor’s current roster to this and Henry Dugat) the Bears would by a simple glance to players like ence schedule because of violations team, the lasting impact he and be standing toe-to-toe with nation- LaceDarius Dunn and Quincy Acy. committed during the Davis Bliss Lomers brought were their deter- ally acclaimed Duke University for Josh Lomers’ screens were at the era. mination and heart. a chance to play in the Final Four? perfect time. So entering as freshmen, Carter The two seniors were hungry Not the Big 12 coaches. They The players became selfless in and Lomers knew the only direc- to launch this program into elite predicted Baylor to finish 10th in adapting their own niches. Because tion this program could go was up. company, and by the dedication the conference, which wouldn’t of that, the Bears exceeded all “Baylor was a perfect oppor- exhibited, have placed the Bears en Emotion even qualify for an NIT bid. expectations placed on them. tunity to come here and be a part route to a powerhouse program. Certainly not the media; many “Guys that want to be a part of of something special, and I think Carter often took over games of- tabbed this season as a “rebuilding something special and put them- that’s one of the reasons why I fensively when his teammates were reflected year.” The fans even fretted how struggling, as he did when Baylor Baylor could survive the Big 12 defeated Texas for the first time on schedule, which included teams the road in 12 years by scoring a like Texas, Kansas and Kansas “From the Lariat, the game-high 27 points. on court State. With a stellar performance in But one group was convinced the second round of the NCAA all along that Scott Drew and the students, the alumni and fans, tournament against Old Dominion Bears had talent capable of making University, Lomers’ strength and Point a deep tournament run — the team we thank you for the desire contributed to several critical itself. offensive putbacks in the closing “We are going to come out and fantastic memories, Bears.