Texas Tech basketball blows out Oklahoma State in Stillwater
The Texas Tech basketball team notched a decisive 78-50 victory over Oklahoma State Wednesday night in Stillwater for its 20th win of the season.
For just the second time since 2004, the Texas Tech basketball team had a successful trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma on Wednesday night. Utilizing a balanced scoring attack that saw three Red Raider starters in double-figures and the two others contribute at least eight points, Tech handed the Cowboys their second-worst home loss in the 81-year history of Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Jarrett Culver once again led Tech in scoring as he poured in an efficient 19 points on 7-12 shooting. Meanwhile, Matt Mooney was 5-5 from 3-point range accounting for all 15 of his points. And it was the 3-point shot which Tech used to put the game away in the first half.
On fire in the first 20 minutes of play, the Red Raiders, which entered the game making the fewest number of 3’s in the Big 12 (6.5 per game) drained 9-13 from behind the arc. Overall, Chris Beard’s team knocked down 12-25 from deep (48%) in what was a continuation of their recent hot streak from long-range. Saturday in Norman, Tech nailed 10-22 (45%) from behind the arc in a win over the Sooners that was the team’s most lopsided road triumph of the year until Wednesday night’s leg-lifting on OSU.
More from Wreck'Em Red
- Texas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these Mountaineers
- Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025
- Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?
- Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title
- Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives
Meanwhile, the Cowboys went just 5-20 from deep. Their two top long-range shooters, Lindy Waters and Thomas Dziagwa, combined to go just 2-10 after the pair entered the game each shooting over 44% from deep to rank in the top four in the Big 12.
As a result, OSU had its worst offensive nights of the season. Putting up just 23 points in the first half, OSU was held scoreless for the first six minutes of the second half as Tech built its lead to 59-23 at the 15:12 mark.
Forward Cameron McGriff led the Pokes with 18 points and Waters added 12 but the rest of the team combined to score just 20 points. The loss was the fourth-consecutive overall and the seventh-straight in conference play for Mike Boynton’s team which had to hold open trouts last month just to field a complete roster after three players were dismissed from the team and a fourth left the program of his own accord.
Fortunately, the Red Raiders took care of business against a team with little to play for other than being a spoiler to teams with title aspirations. OSU led 5-3 after three minutes of play but a 12-2 run over the next five minutes gave Tech a double-digit lead and the visitors never looked back.
With the win, the No. 15 Red Raiders improved to 8-4 in Big 12 play ahead of a critical three-game home stand that begins Saturday against Baylor and also includes a visit from Kansas and a rematch with the Cowboys. If Tech, which is currently tied for second place, is to have any hope of overtaking 9-2 Kansas State, winning-out might be required.
Next. Red Raiders make top 5 for 4-star forward. dark
Fortunately, four of the final six games on the schedule will take place in Lubbock giving Tech an opportunity to make a late-season push. And if the two games played in the state of Oklahoma over the past five days are any indication, this Red Raider team is starting to play its best basketball of the season.