Baylor dominated Michigan State inside with its size advantage, got out in transition and kept knocking down shots.
The result Thursday was a 73-58 victory over the No. 24 Spartans, the second lopsided win against a ranked team in 10 days for the No. 20 Bears, who earned a trip to the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game in the Bahamas.
Freshman Miles Bridges scored 15 points for the Spartans (3-3), who shot 39 percent after halftime — including 1-for-10 on three-pointers — in a demanding opening month of the schedule that has them crisscrossing the country.
"We were moving the ball and really playing well, I thought, through the first half, and we quit doing that," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "I just think we looked awfully tired. I can accept that that's my fault, not theirs."
Baylor's opponent in the championship game will be No. 10 Louisville.
No. 19 West Virginia 89, Illinois 57: The Illini (4-2) lost in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off at the Barclays Center in New York. Jevon Carter had 10 points, six rebounds, six steals and five assists for the Mountaineers (4-0).
Nebraska 80, Dayton 78: Glynn Watson Jr. hit two free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining as the Huskers (4-0) beat the Flyers (2-2) in the first round of the Wooden Legacy in Fullerton, Calif. Watson had 20 points.
No. 21 Iowa State 73, Indiana State 71: The Cyclones (4-0) held off the Sycamores (2-2) in the opening game of the AdvoCare Invitational at Disney World. Iowa State won despite shooting 34.2 percent from the field and barely making half its free throws.
