Despite leading by 12 early in the game and, after being down eight at halftime, nearly taking the lead again, the 14th-seeded South Dakota St. Jackrabbits, playing in their first ever NCAA Tournament, fell to the third-seeded Baylor Bears, 68-60. The Jackrabbits fell down 10 points with just over three minutes to go, and made another run to bring it to within four with 30 seconds left, but couldn't get any closer.
2012 NCAA Bracket, Baylor Vs. South Dakota State Score: Bears Hold Off Jackrabbits, 68-60
Pierre Jackson, the dynamic point guard, was the key player for the Bears in the all-too uncomfortable victory, scoring 18 points, including 11 big ones in the first half, to lead his team. Deep shooter Brady Heslip scored 17 points as well, hitting big, clinching free throws down the stretch as well. Perry Jones III, at one point projected to be a top-three pick in the NBA draft, scored just two points and had this happen to him.
Nate Wolters, the Jackrabbits' engine and leading scorer, had 19 in the loss to go with four rebounds and four assists. His teammates deferred to him for the most part in the final minutes and, though his effort was valiant, his shots too often fell short. They were playing in their first-ever Big Dance, but it didn't hurt any less when they lost.
For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com’s complete scoreboard.
For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation’s Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation’s NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.
See More:
