Tuesday, March 31st, 7:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Madison Square Garden (19,786) -- New York, New York. Television: ESPN2. NIT Record: Baylor 3-3, San Diego St. 5-4. Series Record: San Diego State leads, 3-0.

GAME NOTES: The top-seeded San Diego State Aztecs and third-seeded Baylor Bears meet in New York City this evening in the NIT Semifinal round from famed Madison Square Garden. The winner of this game will take on either Penn State or Notre Dame for the NIT title on Thursday.

The Aztecs have surpassed their postseason win total in their 38 years of Division I play (2), with three wins in this event. SDSU has advanced to the Big Apple with wins over Weber State (65-49), Kansas State (70-52) and finally Saint Mary's (70-66). This is the team's fifth NIT appearance, but the first time the team has advanced to the semifinals. Overall, San Diego State is 5-4 in this event.

The Bears find themselves in the NIT semifinals following a home win over Georgetown (74-72) and a pair of road wins at Virginia Tech (84-66) and Auburn (74-72). This is Baylor's first game in New York City since the 1950 NCAA Final Four. This season, Scott Drew's team posted 23 victories and was ranked in the top-25 for a time, while reaching the Big 12 Tournament title game. The Bears are 3-3 in three previous NIT appearances.

This is the fourth all-time meeting between these two teams, with San Diego State winning all three prior matchups. However, these two teams haven't squared off since 1990.

The Bears have excelled this season at the offensive end of the floor, as the team is shooting a solid .467 from the floor, resulting in an impressive 76.4 ppg. Four of the team's five starters are averaging double figures, so the scoring pool is vast. Curtis Jerrells is a terrific all-around player, pacing Baylor in scoring (16.1 ppg) and assists (179), while ranking second in steals (56). LaceDarius Dunn is a close second in the scoring column at 15.5 ppg. Jerrells and Dunn both have the ability to extend defenses, combining for 170 of the team's 299 three-pointers. Tweety Carter (10.7 ppg, 77-three-pointers) adds to the perimeter assault, while Kevin Rogers (12.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg) is the top performer in the paint. In the semifinal win over Auburn, Dunn led four Bears in double figures with 19 points. Jerrells added 16 points and eight assists, while Rogers recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards. Carter finished things off with 13 points, as Baylor shot 50 percent from the floor.

San Diego State used solid defense to amass 26 victories this season. The team held foes to a mere 40.7 percent shooting and it led to a meager 59.2 ppg. In addition, SDSU outrebounded foes by two rebounds per game and forced 14.7 turnovers per outing. Offensively, the Aztecs are not exactly a juggernaut, averaging modest numbers of 67.3 ppg, on 44.5 percent shooting. The team relies heavily on Kyle Spain and Lorrenzo Wade for its scoring punch. The pair combine for just over 28 points per game, as Wade is putting up 14.3 ppg, followed closely by Spain's 14.0 ppg. Spain is a versatile performer who not only leads the team in three-pointers (64), but also on the boards (5.3 rpg). Richie Williams doesn't add much to the scoring total at 7.4 ppg, but he does lead the team in assists, with 122. San Diego State got out to a 16-point lead in the first half and despite a valiant effort from the Gaels last week, the Aztecs were able to hold on for the win. Billy White was solid down low, delivering on 8-of-12 shots and leading the team with 17 points. Ryan Amoroso added 12 points to the cause, while Spain and Wade chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Bears have the more potent offensive attack and that should be the difference in this one. Behind Jerrells, Dunn and Carter, Baylor should find its way into the title game.

Predicted Outcome

Baylor 74, San Diego State 66