Texas Tech Knocks Off #25 Kansas State, 66-65

Texas Tech returned home tonight to face the newly ranked Kansas State Wildcats. The first half started fast and for the first ten minutes Tech’s offense was playing about as well as I have seen during conference play. With ten minutes to go KSU picked up the defensive intensity and Tech had a hard time scoring. Neither team ended up shooting the ball well in the half, although KSU began to heat up, and the score at the half had Tech trailing 31-28. The second half brought us a complete grind of a game with Tech’s half court offense really struggling for production. They did finally get things going just under ten minutes to play and briefly took the lead around the 6:00 minute mark. In the last forty nine seconds Smith missed three free throws that looked to doom the team, but in the final seconds Tech scored off a fast break to take the lead and win.

Game Notes:

• Once again Norense Odiase was on the bench in street clothes. We learned this week if he plays one more game he forfeits his eligibility to apply for a medical red shirt this season. No official word on what Beard’s plan is for him moving forward. I think if he can get healthy by February then he should play this season.
• Shooting for both teams really was a tale of two halves. The first half found Tech and KSU with field goal percentages in the mid thirties. The second half they were both in the sixties.
• Tech went 20 of 26 from the free throw line.
• Tech only had 9 turnovers tonight.

Up next the Red Raiders will go on the road to face OU on Saturday, January 14th at 7:30.