Dallas ? Needing a victory to turn around a disappointing start, Texas Tech turned to Taylor Potts and his high-powered passing offense.

Texas Tech wide receiver Alexander Torres, left, pulls down a touchdown pass over Baylor safety Tim Atchison. Tech beat the Bears, 45-38, Saturday in Dallas.

Potts threw for 462 yards and four touchdowns, and Texas Tech avoided its first-ever 0-3 start in the Big 12 as it held off Baylor, 45-38, on Saturday.

The Red Raiders (3-2, 1-2) were coming off consecutive losses to Texas and Iowa State. Texas Tech hadn’t been 0-3 in league play since 1990, when it was a member of the now-defunct Southwest Conference.

During the week, Red Raiders players did not downplay the fact they faced a must-win game situation.

“This was huge,” Potts said. “We felt this was going to define our team. We needed to come out and put it together for four quarters.”

Potts, who completed 15 straight passes at one point in the first half and finished 42-of-59, guided an offense that gained 635 total yards.

It was Texas Tech’s biggest offensive outburst since it piled up 739 last Oct. 10 against Kansas State.

“It was absolutely our best performance,” Red Raiders running back Baron Batch said. “But we’ve got so much more potential. We’re going to be a good team.”

The Red Raiders scored on their first two possessions in the third quarter to surge ahead 45-28. Their offense sputtered after that, allowing the Bears to come back as the two teams combined to gain 1,142 yards.

Baylor (4-2, 1-1) has dropped 15 consecutive games to Texas Tech. The Bears were looking to start 5-1 for the first time since 1994, the last year they played in a bowl game.

Terrance Ganaway returned an onside kick for a touchdown and quarterback Robert Griffin threw for 384 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, including a two-yard run that cut Texas Tech’s lead to 45-38 early in the fourth quarter.