CHARLESTON, S.C. – Boston College Coach Steve Donahue thinks his players are ready for big things. But understands they may not have been ready for No. 16 Baylor and star guard Pierre Jackson.

Jackson had a season-high 31 points, and Isaiah Austin had 16 points and nine rebounds in the Bears’ 84-74 victory on Thursday in the Charleston Classic. Each time Boston College looked as if it would take control, Jackson got Baylor (3-0) back on track.

“I thought the difference was the kid Jackson,” Donahue said. “He’s just so good with the ball.”

Jackson’s not bad shooting it, either. He had six 3-pointers, made 10 of 15 shots from the field overall and missed just one of six foul shots. He also had a game-high seven assists to help the Bears get past the Eagles (1-1), who fell to the loser’s bracket and will play Dayton on Friday.

With Baylor’s size and talent, Donahue said it was essential to make Jackson uncomfortable when shooting. That never happened. “You’ve got to pick your poison a little bit,” he said. “We had to keep him on the move and he made us pay for it” when the Eagles didn’t.

The Bears will face Colorado, the team they defeated during their run to the NCAA final eight last season, on Friday for a spot in the Charleston Classic final.

BC (1-1) got 25 points from sophomore Ryan Anderson.

(1) INDIANA 99, SAM HOUSTON STATE 45: Christian Watford scored 23 points to help the Hoosiers coast in the Progressive Legends Classic.

Will Sheehey scored 18 points, Victor Oladipo had 14 and Jordan Hulls 10 for the Hoosiers (3-0), who shot 57 percent from the field and made 9 of 21 3-pointers.

(2) LOUISVILLE 80, SAMFORD 54: Russ Smith scored a game-high 18 points, Chane Behanan grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds and added 12 points and the Cardinals (2-0) trounced the Bulldogs (1-2). Louisville never trailed in its first meeting against Samford, which was playing its highest-ranked opponent since 2006.

(6) N.C. STATE 72, PENN STATE 55: T.J. Warren had 22 points and eight rebounds to lead North Carolina State in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Tipoff.

C.J. Leslie had 14 points and Rodney Purvis added 12 points for the Wolfpack (2-0).

Tim Frazier led the Nittany Lions (1-1) with 23 points.

(7) KANSAS 69, CHATTANOOGA 55: Freshman guard Ben McLemore had 25 points and eight rebounds and the Jayhawks (2-1) used a big second-half charge to beat the Mocs (1-1).

Coming off a loss Tuesday to Michigan State, Kansas got off to a sluggish start and still trailed 42-30 in the opening minutes of the second half. But Jeff Withey’s basket triggered a 27-4 run.

NCAA WOMEN

(8) LOUISVILLE 90, AUSTIN PEAY 52: Monique Reid scored 14 points in just 10 minutes, and the Cardinals (3-0) cruised in their first road game.

Reid is playing limited minutes after a left knee injury ended her season last December. The senior made the most of her time in the first half, hitting six of seven shots and grabbing five rebounds with two steals.

(13) VANDERBILT 69, UAB 54: Christina Foggie scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half to lead the Commodores (3-0) over the Blazers (2-1).

(24) TENNESSEE 101, RICE 48: Meighan Simmons scored 22 points to lead four Lady Vols in double figures as Tennessee (2-1) easily won its first home game of the post-Pat Summitt era.

Bashaara Graves collected 18 points for Tennessee. Isabelle Harrison got 16 points.

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