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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Having the Big 12's best team and best player isn't earning much recognition for Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy.
"The guy stopped me coming in (to the interview room) and asked me for a pass," Eustachy deadpanned Friday after Marcus Fizer led the Cyclones (No. 9 ESPN/USA Today, No. 7 AP)past Baylor 76-64 in the Big 12 tournament.
|  | | Marcus Fizer used his head against Baylor -- and scored a Big 12 record 38 points. |
"I just walked on in. We're making progress. But we're not there yet."
Everybody knows Fizer when they see him. The unanimous choice for Big 12 player of the year scored a career-high and tournament-record 38 points as the regular-season Big 12 champs (27-4) cruised into Saturday's semifinals against the winner of the Kansas-Oklahoma State game.
The muscular 6-foot-8 power forward was often double- and triple-teamed by the outmanned Bears (14-15), but still hit his career-high and went over 30 points for the fifth time in six games.
Forcing the ball inside time after time for layups, he frequently drew fouls for three-point opportunities and was 12-for-13 from the foul line. The Big 12's two-time scoring leader was 2-for-2 from 3-point range, including a long jumper with three seconds left.
Stevie Johnson had a tournament-record 16 rebounds for the Cyclones.
"I give all the credit to our guard play," Fizer said. "I'm just doing the things that the coaching staff has told me to do and our guards are setting up good shots."
The ninth-seeded Bears stayed close and closed the gap to 58-49 with a 6-0 run capped by DeMarcus Minor's basket midway through the second half.
Then Jamaal Tinsley, the Big 12's newcomer of the year, hit his first basket in nine attempts and triggered a 12-0 run that put the game out of reach.
"There's no doubt that when you're playing against Iowa State, you're playing against a team that utilizes its best player. Marcus Fizer is a terrific player," Baylor coach Dave Bliss said. "We admire the way he can score in a variety of ways."
Fizer was 9-for-9 from the foul line and had 19 points in the first half as the Cyclones piled up a 35-26 lead at intermission.
"He's playing with a lot of confidence right now," said Eustachy. "His role is to defend, to rebound -- he knows he has to work on those portions of his game -- and to score. I'm sure as we move up the ladder it will be harder for him to score."
Kantrail Horton had 12 points for Iowa State and Johnson had 11. DeMarcus Minor had 27 for Baylor, while Tevis Stukes, who had 22 against Nebraska the day before, was held to seven.
The previous tournament scoring record belonged to Oklahoma's Corey Brewer, who had 33 against Missouri in 1997. Kansas' Eric Chenowith had held the rebound record with 15.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Baylor Clubhouse
Iowa State Clubhouse
Cowboys end Jayhawks' Big 12 tourney reign
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Marcus Fizer stretches way out for the layup.
avi: 569 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Kantrail Horton rifles in the long range jumper.
avi: 442 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Stevie Johnson finishes the drive inside with a layup.
avi: 676 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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