Baylor holds off South Dakota State 68-60

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Baylor guard A.J. Walton (22) passes as South Dakota State forward Griffan Callahan (33) watches during the first half of an NCAA men’s tournament second-round college basketball game Thursday, March 15, 2012, in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP) Pierre Jackson scored 18 points and Baylor held off 14th-seeded South Dakota State 68-60 Thursday night in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The third-seeded Bears (28-7) fell behind by 12 in the first half before taking a 36-28 halftime lead that they never relinquished. But it was a nail-biter.

Making their first trip to the NCAA tournament, the Jackrabbits (27-8) misfired on a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left that would have made it one-point game. Then, the Bears iced it at the line.

Brady Heslip added 17 points for the Bears, who will face the Colorado-UNLV winner in the third round of the South Regional at The Pit on Saturday.