Pirate Galaxy » Thomas for an open layup and Thoma

AMES, Iowa -- As tumultuous as Baylors offseason was, the Bears first month under interim coach Jim Grobe has gone relatively smoothly.No. 13 Baylor (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) is the only team in the league with four wins. Last week it used four turnovers to hold off a talented Oklahoma State team 35-24 , and with Iowa State (1-3, 0-1) and Kansas (1-2, 0-0) up next, Baylor has a very realistic shot at finishing the first half of the season unbeaten.I think weve got to improve to be the kind of team were capable of being. But I think weve got a talented football team, Grobe said.The Cyclones are a big underdog against the Bears, a program that it used to share space with in the Big 12 basement.But Iowa State might have turned a corner last week. After losing three straight under new coach Matt Campbell, the Cyclones destroyed San Jose State 44-10 behind an opportunistic defense and an emerging offense.Baylor will be their toughest challenge yet though.The Bears defense, often forgotten about as the offense racked up historic stats in recent years, is ranked among the nations best. Baylors ingenuity in the passing game has been paired with increased balance in 2016 as well, as it ranks second nationally with 326 rushing yards per game.They have really good football players. That hasnt changed, Campbell said. They expect to win. That hasnt changed.Here are some of the story lines to follow as Baylor gets set to make the trip to Ames:STOUT BEARS DThe Bears are 11th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 13.5 points per game, first in pass efficiency defense and fifth in tackles for loss. Baylor also leads the Big 12 with nine takeaways.Its a pretty big deal. We have a group of guys who are hungry to try and go get the ball. Any time we see it loose, we go for it, linebacker Aiavion Edwards said.CYCLONE QB SHUFFLEIowa State has split snaps between starter Joel Lanning and Jacob Park the past few games, and against San Jose State that rotation was a major success. The pair combined for over 300 yards and five touchdowns on 22 of 29 passing, with Park tossing for three scores in a breakout performance. The two are expected to get similar playing time against Baylor.Both have earned the right to play quarterback, Campbell said. But if the Cyclones get down early expect to see more of Park, the more accurate passer of the two.NOT-SO RECORD NUMBERSBaylor became just the second team in FBS history, along with BYU (1979-81), to lead the nation in scoring three years in a row with 48.1 points per game. The Bears have dipped a bit in that regard, averaging 42 points while playing just one Power Five school. But Iowa State is just seventh in the Big 12 in scoring defense, and Saturdays weather, often a big problem in the leagues most northern outpost, is forecast to be perfect.SERIES HISTORYIts easy to forget how lopsided this series used to be -- in favor of Iowa State. The Cyclones won four straight matchups from 1997-2004, including a 41-0 blowout in Ames in 2001. But Iowa State hasnt beaten Baylor since 2012, losing in Waco 71-7 the following season.HE SAID ITFinally being able to get that first win is just a sigh of relief. Just knowing that we put in all of that work for a good reason, Iowa State wide receiver Allen Lazard said.---Online: www.collegefootball.ap.orgCheap Air Max 90 Ultra China .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Wholesale Air Max 90 Womens . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outlet-air-max-90-ultra-cheap.html . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Discount Air Max 90 .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Fake Air Max 90 Essential . JOHNS, N.RICHMOND, Va. -- Zach Smith had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Devon Thomas added a career-high 17 points and Texas Tech held off Richmond 79-72 on Saturday for the Red Raiders first true road win of the season.Richmond trailed 52-49 with 13:10 remaining but didnt score again until Khwan Fore made a 3-pointer at the 5:28 mark to get within 14 points. The Spiders got as close as five points with 11.3 seconds left when Fore made a layup in traffic. He didnt convert the 3-point play but Kwesi Abakah grabbed the offensive rebound before ShawnDre Jones was called for traveling near the 3-point line.Aaron Ross sealed it at the line with 6.7 seconds left.Ross finished with 13 points for Texas Tech (10-1), which won its seventh straight. Justin Gray had 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Thomas previous high was 11 points.Fore tied a career-high with 19 points and had seven assists for Richmond (5-5). DeMonte Buckingham made three of the Spiders 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 16 points, and Jones added four 3s and 14 points.Texas Tech guard Keenan Evans was fouled away from the basket with 1:02 left and hit two free throws for a 10-point lead. Those makes were the start of six straight for the Red Raiders, who hit 9 of 12 down the stretch.Jones kept Richmond in it by hitting a pull-up 3-pointer in transitionn with 57 seconds left and making another 3 on Richmonds next possession to get within 72-66.ddddddddddddut Texas Tech answered after both of Jones makes. Gray threw a length-of-the-floor pass to Thomas for an open layup and Thomas made two free throws with 47.1 seconds left for an eight-point lead.Texas Tech was 3 of 4 from the free-throw line in the first half and made 14 of 21 in the second.Texas Tech is obviously a very good team and very athletic, Richmond coach Chris Mooney said. I thought we competed and did some things very well, but just not enough to beat a team at that level.BIG PICTURETexas Tech: Prior to the game, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said: Not only for this game against Richmond but for the rest of the season, were going to have to show in Big 12 play the ability to compete on the backboards. The Red Raiders dominated the glass against the Spiders, 41-28, including 16 on the offensive end.Richmond: The Spiders got gritty performances from their underclassmen. Fore, a sophomore, and Buckingham, a freshman, combined for 35 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.UP NEXTTexas Tech: hosts Longwood on Wednesday night.Richmond: plays at James Madison on Tuesday night. ' ' '