GAME NOTES: The Big 12/SEC Challenge continues at Memorial Gymnasium on Thursday night, as the Vanderbilt Commodores play host to the Baylor Bears.

Baylor got the season off to a flying 5-0 start but suffered its first loss of the season in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational to Illinois on Nov. 28, 62-54. The Bears got back on the winning track on Monday with an easy home win over Texas Southern, 75-49.

Vanderbilt has also gotten the new campaign off on the right foot, winning five of its first six games, with its only setback coming on a neutral floor to Rutgers in the Barclays Center Classic on Nov. 28, 68-65. The Commodores rebounded in the event's third-place game a day later by defeating La Salle, 68-55.

The Commodores have an 8-1 edge over the Bears in the all-time series, although the teams haven't met since 1985.

The Bears did what was expected of them against an inferior opponent at home earlier in the week, as they outshot Texas Southern from the field, 44.3 percent to 35.4 percent, and dominated the rebounding battle (47-30) en route to the 26-point victory. Rico Gathers had his way in the paint all night, finishing with 23 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Lester Medford scored 13 points while handing out eight assists to no turnovers, and Taurean Prince chipped in 11 points and seven boards.

The key to Baylor's success this season has but its outstanding play on the defensive end of the court, as it allows just 51.1 ppg on less than 34 percent shooting, which makes its modest offensive numbers (.440 FG percentage, 68.0 ppg) all the more acceptable. Prince leads the way with 12.8 ppg and has made 11-of-20 from 3-point range. Gathers (9.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg) and Royce O'Neale (9.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg) are an imposing frontcourt duo. Kenny Chery (10.3 ppg) has missed the last three games with a foot injury and is questionable to return Thursday.

The Commodores carried a double-digit advantage into intermission in their last game and never allowed their lead to dip below eight points in the second stanza. They shot a red-hot 54.2 percent from the field in the victory while holding La Salle to just 43.1 percent. Pacing four teammates in double figures with 17 points was Damian Jones, who added seven rebounds. Riley LaChance poured in 14 points and James Siakam and Luke Kornet chipped in 10 points apiece.

Much like Baylor, Vanderbilt's best asset is its defensive pressure, as opposing teams score just 56.7 ppg on 34.8 percent from the field. It has experienced plenty of offensive success as well, shooting 50.2 percent from the floor (including 40.6 percent from 3-point range) for 71.5 ppg. Jones (17.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and Kornet (12.3 ppg) are both shooting greater than 63 percent from the field, with Kornet knocking down 13-of-23 from beyond the arc. LaChance (11.3 ppg) rounds out the double-digit scorers, while Wade Baldwin IV stuffs the stat sheet with 8.8 ppg, 6.2 apg, 5.0 rpg and nearly two steals per contest.

Baylor is the more talented team, and if Chery is able to suit up it'll have a great chance to earn a quality road win. However, the Commodores' brand of stout defense should be able to neutralize the Bears' scorers and the home crowd will give them a necessary boost down the stretch.