WACO, Texas, March 19 (UPI) -- Tweety Carter put Baylor in front for good with 4:30 to play Wednesday and the Bears held on to defeat Georgetown in the NIT's opening round 74-72.
It was Baylor's first win in a national post-season tournament in 59 seasons.
The Bears (21-14), who reached the title game of the Big 12 Conference Tournament before falling to Missouri, overcame a 10-point halftime deficit.
Curtis Jerrells made two free throws to give Baylor a 74-69 lead with 8 seconds remaining, but DaJuan Summers nailed a 3-pointer to get the Hoyas within two with 4 seconds left.
Carter then went to the line with a chance to clinch it, but he missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity. Summers got off a 3-point attempt before the buzzer sounded, but it came up short.
Baylor will take on Virginia Tech in the second round after the Hokies survived a double-overtime battle with Duquesne on Wednesday.
LaceDarius Dunn and Kevin Rogers both scored 20 for the Bears and Jerrells had 19. Summers led the Hoyas with 19.
Two of the three Big East Conference teams in the NIT lost in the first round. Providence was knocked out at home by Miami while Notre Dame advanced against Alabama-Birmingham.
