Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball: 2021 NCAA MBK National Semifinal: Houston Cougars vs. Baylor Bears

Baylor Bears Preview

​Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball’. Tonight, it is the 2021 NCAA MBK National Semifinal game, between Houston Cougars and Baylor Bears.
 
Cougars are making their first ‘Final Four’ since 1984. Back in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons they were nicknamed ‘Phi Slamma Jamma’. But they have not seen the National Semifinal since the Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon days until this year.
 
For the Bears, their last appearance in the College Basketball famed event was 1950. They have not had success since then until 2010 and 2012, when they reached NCAA’s Regional Finals (Elite 8). Like the Houston Cougars, Baylor would like to win one for the first time in school history.
 
Cougars are led by Quentin Grimes in scoring. While Justin Gorham leads Houston in rebounding. And DeJon Jarreau leads the team in assists.
 
As for the Bears, they are led by Jared Butler in scoring. Mark Vital leads Baylor in rebounding. And Davion Mitchell leads the Waco school in assists.
 
It is Houston Cougars taking on Baylor Bears, coming up shortly.
 
Starting Lineups:
Houston Cougars:
G: D. Jarreau
G: Q. Grimes
G: M. Sasser
F: J. Gorham
F: R. Chaney
 
Baylor Bears:
G: J. Butler
G: M. Vital
G: M. Teague
G: D. Mitchell
F: F. Thamba

Cougars are in their road red uniforms. While Bears are in their home white uniforms. 

1st Half:
20:00: Bears win tipoff. Cougars will have the possession arrow, in their favor. 
19:32: Bears attacking left basket. While Houston attacking right basket.
19:28: Baylor commit a shot clock violation.
18:58: Sasser drains a 3-point FG. HOU 3, BAY 0
18:22: Butler nails a 3-point FG. HOU 3, BAY 3
17:33: Mitchell buries a 3-point FG. HOU 3, BAY 6
17:12: Jarreau with a layup. HOU 5, BAY 6
16:57: JUMP BALL! Cougars Ball! Bears will have the possession arrow, in their favor.
16:43: Sasser makes a 3-point FG. HOU 8, BAY 6
16:17: Mayer with a FG. HOU 8, BAY 8
15:47: Mayer with a 3-point FG. HOU 8, BAY 11
14:49: JTT with a jump shot. HOU 8, BAY 13
14:15: T.V. Timeout #1: HOU 8, BAY 13

​13:46: JTT makes 1 of 2 free throws. HOU 8, BAY 14
13:09: JTT makes both free throws. HOU 8, BAY 16
12:42: Sasser buries a 3-point FG. HOU 11, BAY 16
12:09: Mitchell makes 1 of 2 free throws. HOU 11, BAY 17
11:52: T.V. Timeout #2: HOU 11, BAY 17

​​11:21: Vital with a layup. HOU 11, BAY 19
10:42: Butler makes a 3-point FG. HOU 11, BAY 22
10:40: COUGARS TIMEOUT #1: HOU 11, BAY 22
9:30: Sasser makes a 3-point FG. HOU 14, BAY 22
8:35: Butler with a layup and foul. Butler makes a free throw. HOU 14, BAY 25
8:04: Bears are in the Bonus.
7:48: T.V. Timeout #3: HOU 14, BAY 25

6:49: Mayer with a rebound, and layup. HOU 14, BAY 27
6:32: Sasser drills a 3-point FG. HOU 17, BAY 27
5:58: Butler with a 3-point FG. HOU 17, BAY 30
5:12: Butler with a 3-point FG. HOU 17, BAY 33
5:08: COUGARS TIMEOUT #2: HOU 17, BAY 33
4:42: Flagler with a 3-point FG. HOU 17, BAY 36
4:11: Butler with a layup. HOU 17, BAY 38
3:53: T.V. Timeout #4: HOU 17, BAY 38

2:34: Cougars are in the Bonus.
2:17: Gorham makes 1 of 2 free throws. HOU 18, BAY 38
1:49: Mayer with a layup. HOU 18, BAY 40
1:15: JUMP BALL! Bears are in the Bonus. Cougars have the possession arrow, in their favor. 
:55: Mitchell with a jump shot. HOU 18, BAY 42
:38: Sasser makes a layup. HOU 20, BAY 42
:00: Mitchell with a 3-point FG. HOU 20, BAY 45

Halftime:
HOU 20, BAY 45

Halftime Leaders:
Scoring: Butler/Sasser 17 points
Rebounding: Butler/Gorham 4 rebounds
Assists: Mitchell (BAY) 7 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
Butler and Sasser have 17 points, but the rest of Baylor is showing up for Jared Butler. 

2nd Half:
20:00: Cougars will inbound to start the 2nd Half. Bears will have the possession arrow, in their favor. 
19:44: Chaney with a hook shot. HOU 22, BAY 45
18:40: Thamba with a layup. HOU 22, BAY 47
18:16: Grimes with a jump shot. HOU 24, BAY 47
17:55: Thamba with a FG. HOU 24, BAY 49
17:41: Jarreau with a jump shot. HOU 26, BAY 49
16:33: Teague makes 1 of 2 free throws. HOU 26, BAY 50
16:08: Chaney makes both free throws. HOU 28, BAY 50
15:26: Sasser with a layup. HOU 30, BAY 50
14:57: Teague with a jump shot. HOU 30, BAY 52
14:38: Chaney with a jam. HOU 32, BAY 52
14:15: T.V. Timeout #5: HOU 32, BAY 52

​14:07: Mark with a jump shot. HOU 34, BAY 52
13:04: Grimes with a jump shot. HOU 36, BAY 52
12:17: Flagler with a jump shot. HOU 36, BAY 54
11:59: T.V. Timeout #6: HOU 36, BAY 54

​11:36: Teague makes 1 of 2 free throws. HOU 36, BAY 55
11:05: White with a rebound and layup. HOU 38, BAY 55
10:40: Mayer with a 3-point FG. HOU 38, BAY 58
10:04: BEARS TIMEOUT #1: HOU 38, BAY 58
9:30: Grimes draws a foul, from behind the 3-point line. 
9:30: Grimes makes 3 free throws. HOU 41, BAY 58
9:04: JTT with a layup. HOU 41, BAY 60
7:34: T.V. Timeout #7: HOU 41, BAY 60

​7:12: JTT with the finger-roll layup. HOU 41, BAY 62
6:48: JTT makes both free throws. HOU 41, BAY 64
6:15: Mark with a layup. HOU 43, BAY 64
5:51: Teague with a jump shot. HOU 43, BAY 66
5:36: Grimes with a layup and foul. Grimes makes a free throw. HOU 46, BAY 66
5:14: Teague with a layup. HOU 46, BAY 66
4:51: Gimes buries a 3-point FG. HOU 49, BAY 66
4:10: White makes both free throws. HOU 51, BAY 66
3:48: Flagler with a layup. HOU 51, BAY 70
3:48: T.V. Timeout #8: HOU 51, BAY 70

​3:27: Jarreau with a layup. HOU 53, BAY 70
2:58: Mitchell with a 3-point  FG. HOU 53, BAY 73
2:26: Sasser draws a foul, from behind the 3-point line. 
2:26: Sasser makes 1 of 3 free throws. HOU 54, BAY 73
2:26: Cougars are in the Double Bonus.
1:58: Teague with a 3-point FG. HOU 54, BAY 76
1:09: Gorham with a fade away jump shot. HOU 56, BAY 76
:40.8: Shead with a layup. HOU 58, BAY 76
:19.3: Peterson makes a jump shot. HOU 58, BAY 78
:02.8: Shead makes 1 of 2 free throws. HOU 59, BAY 78
:00: The End of gAme.

Final:
HOU 59, BAY 78

Baylor Bears advance to first national championship game since 1948. 

Final Leaders:
Scoring: Sasser (HOU) 20 points
Rebounding: Gorham/Tchamwa Tchatchoua 6 rebounds
Assists: Mitchell (BAY) 11 rebounds

Final Thoughts:
A dominant performance by Baylor Bears. They shot the ball near 53%, while only giving up 38% from the field. For the Cougars, they just had trouble scoring in the 1st Half. They outscored Baylor in the 2nd Half, but that was not enough. 

Baylor awaits the winner of tonight's UCLA/Gonzaga game, in the National Championship Game on Monday Night.

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this page.