Colorado 91, Baylor 84

3/13/2008 4:16 PM

By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -Richard Roby scored eight of his 32 points in the second overtime and Colorado put a dent in Baylor's NCAA tournament hopes with a surprising 91-84 win Thursday in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

Colorado (12-19) jumped out to a big early lead, withstood a furious Baylor rally in the second half, then made just enough shots in both overtimes to become the first 12 seed to beat a 5 seed in the 12-year history of the Big 12 tournament.

Marcus Hall had 25 points despite missing potential game-winners at the end of regulation and the first overtime. Roby also had 12 rebounds and Dwight Thorne scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half for Colorado, which will face fourth-seeded Oklahoma in the second round on Friday.

Baylor (21-10) won more than 20 games for just the fourth time in 102 years of basketball, seemingly enough to make the NCAA tournament for the first time in 20 years. Still, the Bears wanted to get at least a win or two in the Big 12 tournament to make it easy on the selection committee.

Instead, they made the decision even more difficult.

Baylor let Colorado control the tempo and had all kinds of trouble defensively, particularly on backdoor cuts in the first half. The Bears missed key free throws down the stretch and were just 8-for-28 from 3-point range.

Curtis Jerrells and LaceDarius Dunn each had 20 points and Henry Dugat had 19 for Baylor, which likely will have some anxious moments when the NCAA field is announced on Sunday.

Colorado shot 72 percent in the first half and led by as many as 15 in the second, only to let the Bears back in it.

Baylor held the Buffaloes without a field goal for nearly six minutes and went on a 14-1 run, capped by Henry Dugat's two free throws that tied it at 61-61 with just under 3 minutes left in regulation.

Baylor had a chance at the lead with 1:15 left, but Kevin Rogers missed two free throws. Colorado botched its final possession of regulation, waiting too long to get the play started, then settling for a desperation turnaround 3-point attempt by Hall at the buzzer.

The first overtime came down to another final possession for Colorado after Dunn tied it at 74-all on a rebound slam with 15 seconds left. Hall had the ball again and got off a better shot, but his runner caromed high off the glass with 2 seconds left.

Colorado tried to run away with it at the start of the second overtime, scoring the first seven points, but Jerrells followed with a three-point play. Baylor got within 83-81, but Rogers missed two more free throws and Hall scored on a runner with 25 seconds left.

Hall followed with two free throws, then Roby hit two more to extend his career at least one more game.