Texas Tech basketball: 5 reasons Red Raiders were able to beat Michigan
![ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives to the basket against Isaiah Livers #4 and Charles Matthews #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives to the basket against Isaiah Livers #4 and Charles Matthews #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3c3a0c22c9678a0c1f6ebb8a2111645e3fe572521c636db7ede5bdf8404ac674.jpg)
The 3-point line was much more kind to the Red Raiders
Thursday, two of the most stingy defenses in the nation in regards to the 3-point shot faced off. And while neither team was stellar from deep, the Red Raiders outscored the Wolverines by 15 points from 3-point range.
The shocking development was the Wolverine’s brick-fest from outside as they laid enough bricks to take Dorothy to see the Wizard. Their only successful 3-point attempt came from walk-on C.J. Baird in the final minute of the game meaning that the Wolverines that mattered went 0-18 from behind the arc.
Michigan was never a great 3-point shooting team this year shooting 35.1% from deep. They entered the game making 7.3 shots from 3-point range per game accounting for just over 31% of their offense this year.
When that was absent from their attack on Thursday, the Wolverines looked shell-shocked and it appeared to hurt their defensive effort and execution. In all, five Michigan players missed multiple 3’s led by Brazdeikis who went 0-5 and Matthews who went 0-4.
Meanwhile, Tech hit 6 of its 19 long-range shots with Moretti nailing three of four and Mooney making half of his four attempts. Against a team allowing opponents to 29.0% from deep, Tech shot 31.6% which was a key factor in helping the Red Raiders pull away in the second half.