Bears host Aggies in Battle of the Brazos

#6 Baylor (13-0) will look to stay perfect as they host rival Texas A&M (9-3) in the 204th meeting of the Battle of the Brazos, 6 p.m. CST on ESPNU.

As football season comes to a close, Baylor fans are now focusing their attention to the hardwood where their sixth-ranked ranked Bears are beginning conference play against none other than rival Texas A&M.

The Bears' 13-0 record is their best start in school history. The Aggies on the other hand are off to an uncharacteristically slow start compared to recent years at 9-3. A&M is currently outside of the top 200 in the RPI and doesn't boast a single signature win. That is what makes tonight's game important for them. The Aggies will need a very strong showing in conference play to keep their streak of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances alive. Netting a road win over Baylor would give them a key notch on their resume while also ensuring a fast start to conference season.

The sixth-ranked Baylor Bears enter the 2012 conference campaign as the highest ranked team from the Big 12 and one of only two conference members to still be undefeated. Baylor is seeking its first ever Big 12 championship and first conference championship since capturing the 1950 Southwest Conference crown.

The Bears' star sophomore forward Perry Jones III has been limited in Baylor's last two wins over West Virginia and Mississippi State, scoring a combined 12 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. In those games, Baylor has been led by junior college transfer point guard Pierre Jackson. Jackson hit an overtime forcing 3-pointer against West Virginia and also made the game winning layup against Mississippi State. The former JUCO national player of the year is averaging 12.2 ppg and is shooting over 50% from the floor, all coming off the bench for head coach Scott Drew's squad.



GAME NOTES

- Texas A&M leads the all-time series 127-76. The Aggies also hold a 50-45 edge in games played in Waco, however the Bears have won the last three meetings at home.

- Baylor has won the last three games of the series dating back to the 2010 season.

- Texas A&M is 0-2 versus opponents ranked in the top 100 of the RPI this season.

- Baylor is accompanied by Syracuse, Missouri, and Murray State as one of the four undefeated teams in Division I basketball.

- Baylor has won its last four conference openers.

- The Battle of the Brazos is the second most played series played for each school, the Texas Longhorns being the only opponent played more for both teams.

- Due to Texas A&M's impending departure to the Southeastern Conference, this is the second to last scheduled meeting between the two. The two teams will also meet February 1st in College Station.