Baylor survives in thriller over Mississippi State with late-game heroics
- Baylor Bears secured a 75-72 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament.
- V.J. Edgecombe became a crucial player in the second half, scoring 16 points to propel his team.
- Baylor advanced to face either Mount St. Mary's or Duke in the next round.
On March 21, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Baylor Bears faced off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a thrilling first-round matchup of the NCAA Tournament. The ninth-seeded Baylor, led by V.J. Edgecombe, achieved a narrow victory with a final score of 75-72. Despite having a lackluster first half with only four points at halftime, Edgecombe turned the game around in the second half, finishing the game with an impressive total of 16 points. His performance was pivotal for the Bears, enabling them to fend off a determined comeback by the Bulldogs. Baylor took control early, leveraging a lead that swelled to as much as 11 points during the second half. However, Mississippi State exhibited impressive resilience and tenacity, slowly chipping away at the deficit. With just 29 seconds remaining in the game, the Bulldogs scored to cut the Baylor lead to a single point, showcasing their capacity to mount a comeback at a critical juncture. Coach Chris Jans of Mississippi State praised the effort of his team, but acknowledged that their last-second shot attempts fall short, ultimately leading to their defeat. V.J. Edgecombe was a standout player, not only contributing in points but also recording five rebounds, a block, and a steal in his first NCAA Tournament game. Coach Scott Drew expressed confidence in Edgecombe's abilities, noting that the athlete influences the game in many ways regardless of his scoring contribution. The Baylors made strategic decisions late in the game, opting not to foul in critical moments, which added to the tension as time dwindled. The conclusion of the match came with two important free throws executed by Edgecombe with only 9.3 seconds left on the clock. Despite being fouled, the rookie managed to keep his composure and secured the points needed to give Baylor some breathing room ahead of the final moments. As the buzzer approached, Mississippi State's Claudell Harris Jr. attempted a three-pointer to tie the game but missed, leaving Baylor to celebrate their hard-fought victory. The Bears advanced to the next round where they have the potential to face the top seed Duke, contingent on Duke's progress in the tournament.