Curtis Jerrells rebounded a missed free throw then made one of two from the line with 6.9 seconds left and Auburn couldn’t convert two late chances to tie or go ahead, helping the Bears advance to the semifinals of the NIT with a 74-72 win Tuesday night.
Baylor will play the Saint Mary’s-San Diego State winner next Tuesday in New York, the Bears’ first game at Madison Square Garden since the 1950 Final Four.
Kevin Rogers had 19 points and nine rebounds to help the Bears (23-14) extend their improbable run after finishing ninth in the Big 12 Conference and going 59 years without a postseason win. They started the string with a league tournament that included upsets of Kansas and Texas.
“I think it shows great character,” Jerrells said. “We didn’t have the kind of season we wanted during the conference season, but we pulled together. We found the energy to go into the conference tournament, do some damage, and then just continue on from there.”
The Tigers (24-12), who matched the second-best win total in program history, had two chances in the final seconds to at least tie it.
Trailing 73-72, Auburn forced a turnover on the inbound pass with 16 seconds left. DeWayne Reed tried a leaner and was fouled but missed both free throws and Jerrells rebounded. Rasheem Barrett’s 3-point try bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
Jerrells had 16 points and eight assists against only one turnover for the Bears, who shot 51 percent from the field.
Tweety Carter had 13 points and made three 3-point shots. Jerrells, Rogers and Henry Dugat became Baylor’s winningest senior class with No. 63.
“They’ve done a great job of leading the team,” Drew said. “I’m so happy they’re playing their best basketball at the end of their career so they can have great memories.”
Baylor hadn’t won multiple postseason games since it finished as NCAA runner-up to Kentucky in 1948.
Barrett led Auburn with 16 points and had hit three of four 3s before his final miss, including one with 19 seconds left to make it a one-point game. Reed scored 13 and Korvotney Barber had 11 points and 13 rebounds.
