No. 9 Baylor Edges No. 8 Mississippi State in Epic Battle That Comes Down to Final Shot

March Madness Day 2 wasted no time in delivering heart-pounding drama as the Baylor Bears, seeded ninth, overcame No. 8 Mississippi State in a thriller that ended 75-72. This wasn’t just a game; it was a rollercoaster ride right down to the last tenth of a second.

Baylor seemed to have it all under control for the first 30 minutes, cruising with an 11-point lead in the second half. But March Madness wouldn’t be itself without a comeback, and the Bulldogs answered the call. Slowly but surely, they chipped away at the lead, setting up a nail-biting finish.

With just 29 seconds remaining, Mississippi State slashed the gap to a single point after an intense back-and-forth exchange of buckets. But the Bulldogs fouled Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe—a freshman already earning his stripes as the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. With ice in his veins, Edgecombe sank both free throws with 9.3 seconds left to give Baylor a little breathing room.

The drama wasn’t done. Mississippi State’s Claudell Harris Jr. had a chance to even things up with a three-pointer, but the attempt didn’t hit its mark. Baylor’s Norchad Omier then missed a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity with 0.5 seconds left, leaving the door cracked open for a miracle. The Bulldogs tried their luck with a Hail Mary from beyond half-court, but the shot missed, sealing Baylor’s victory.

The Bears were led by Robert O. Wright III, who dropped 21 points. He had plenty of help, with Edgecombe, Langston Love, and Omier also scoring in double digits. On the other side, Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard gave an incredible individual performance with a game-high 26 points, but it wasn’t enough to carry the Bulldogs past the finish line.

For Baylor, this win is a much-needed boost after losing six of their last 10 games. Next up? Likely a showdown with Duke, the tournament favorite. Let’s just say, they might want to bring an even bigger bag of tricks for that one.