Alabama @ Baylor preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2009 ) Alabama 79, Baylor 76

Baylor is turning heads in a wild Big 12 race with three straight wins, the last two by double digits. The Bears take a step outside of conference action to host Alabama on Saturday in an intriguing SEC/Big 12 Challenge affair that could have implications once March rolls around.

Behind 29 points from senior guard Makai Mason, Baylor got past West Virginia on the road 85-73 on Monday, which came two days after it knocked off 13th-ranked Texas Tech 73-62. "The great thing with our team with these wins is somebody different has stepped up every time, and that's what it takes to win as a team," Bears coach Scott Drew told reporters after his team shot 50 percent against the Mountaineers. "We're playing unselfishly and sharing the ball and they're doing their job defensively and rebounding." The Crimson Tide have sandwiched victories over Missouri and No. 20 Ole Miss around a three-point road loss to top-ranked Tennessee. They dominated the glass and recorded nine steals and nine blocked shots in Tuesday's 74-53 victory over the Rebels, Alabama's most lopsided win of the season.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU

ABOUT ALABAMA (12-6): Sophomore guard John Petty ranks second on the team in scoring (12.2) after following up his 30-point effort at Tennessee with 15 against Ole Miss. Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. has a total of 28 points over his last three games but still tops the team in the category (13.8). Senior forward Donta Hall recorded his fourth straight double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) against the Rebels, tying the team record.

ABOUT BAYLOR (12-6): The Bears are 3-1 since losing sophomore standout Tristan Clark to a season-ending knee injury, and Mason is averaging 17.3 points in that stretch while making 11 3-pointers. Mason leads the team in scoring (15.7) and assists (2.9), while sophomore guard Mario Kegler is climbing the ranks after a career-high 18 points at West Virginia. Junior guard Devonte Bandoo scored 13 points against the Mountaineers while matching his season high of four assists in 28 minutes, the most playing time he's seen since Nov. 12.

TIP-INS

1. Hall is third in the SEC in both rebounding (9.1) and field-goal percentage (62.2).

2. Bears G Mark Vital ranks tied for fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding (7.5) but he had just four at West Virginia and went without a made basket for the first time in conference play.

3. Alabama owns a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series, although this marks the first time Baylor has ever hosted the Crimson Tide.

PREDICTION: Baylor 76, Alabama 74