NCAA tournament, first round: No. 3 Baylor turns back Sam Houston State, 68-59

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Ekpe Udoh had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Baylor won an NCAA tournament game for the first time in 50 years by beating Sam Houston State, 68-59, today in New Orleans.

Udoh also had five assists, two blocked shots and two steals for the third-seeded Bears (26-7), who broke open a close game down the stretch. Their first-round victory in the South Regional was their first in the tournament since beating BYU in 1950.

LaceDarius Dunn scored 13 points for Baylor. His short, spinning fade and one-handed jam fueled a late 8-0 run that clinched it.

Gilberto Clavell had 23 points and Preston Brown added 13 for 14th-seeded Sam Houston State (25-8), which tied it at 55 on a short floater by Ashton Mitchell with 3:48 to go.

The game remained tied until Quincy Acy dunked to put Baylor ahead for good with 2:30 left.

-- Associated Press