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Texas Tech basketball: Why the Red Raiders were nearly upset by OK State

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket against Cameron McGriff #12 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second half of the game on February 27, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State 84-80 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket against Cameron McGriff #12 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second half of the game on February 27, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State 84-80 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Six-consecutive misses at the free throw line in the second half

The unquestioned hero of this win was Davide Moretti who was the definition of clutch by hitting all twelve of his free throws, including eight in the final five minutes of the second half and overtime.  But the rest of the team nearly cost the Red Raiders a win with a shaky night at the line.

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Tech was just 13-20 (65.7%) from the charity stripe outside of Moretti.  And at one point in the second half, there was a run of six-consecutive misses.

When Deshawn Corprew missed the back end of a 1-and-1 at the 12:02 mark, Tech was up 52-43.  Culver then missed the front end of a 1-and-1 (which is as damaging as a turnover) with Tech up eight points.

Norense Odiase then missed a pair of attempts that could have restored a nine-point lead and ended a two-minute scoring drought.  Brandone Francis then missed a pair to extend that drought to over four minutes.

Finally, Moretti stepped up and stopped the free throw woes by drilling a pair at the 6:48 mark to give Tech a 58-49 lead.  The Red Raiders were incredibly fortunate that OSU did not make up hardly any ground during that stretch but by failing to capitalize at the line, Tech missed out on an opportunity to push the lead back up to at least 15 points and potentially break the spirit of the visiting team.

Next. Tech survives OT scare vs. OK State. dark

And had the free throws cost Tech the win, it would have been the second time this season that free throws cast the Red Raiders a home win.  In its only loss in Lubbock this year, Texas Tech managed to go just 6-15 (40%) at the line in a 68-64 loss to Iowa State that sill may loom large in the Big 12 race.  Fortunately, the same fate did not befall the Red Raiders a second time Wednesday night.

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