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Texas Tech basketball: Looking back at top 5 games of 2018-19

By Matthew Conner

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Texas Tech 78, Memphis 67

While Texas Tech was certainly one of the biggest stories of this year, many are expecting the Memphis Tigers to make huge waves next year. In year-two of the Penny Hardaway era, Memphis will bring in a top-10 recruiting class including the No. 1 player in the nation James Wiesman.

And back in November, the Red Raiders and the Tigers faced off in Miami in what turned out to be an early-season turning point for Chris Beard’s team.  That’s because, the Red Raiders’ double-digit comeback in the second half instilled in them the type of grit and fight that became their hallmark this year.

Tech entered the game 6-0 having won each game by double-digits.  But the 3-3 Tigers came out hot in the first half jumping out to a 37-28 halftime lead.

In fact, Memphis outplayed the Red Raiders for much of the second half taking a 56-44 lead with just 9:55 left to play.  But that’s when the Red Raiders came to life, especially Tariq Owens.

In what his first of many signature moments this season, the grad transfer set a school record with 8 blocks to go along with 13 points and 11 rebounds despite playing the final 13-plus minutes with four fouls.

And Tech desperately needed not only his defense but also his offense.  That’s because Davide Moretti was a non-factor with just four points while Matt Mooney had only eight.  Tech’s second and third-leading scorers on the season combined to shoot just 4-13 against a Memphis team that was not known for its defense.

What made this game a true turning point was that it showed how Tariq Owens could change a game defensively.  As we would see throughout the season, the 6-foot-11 pogo stick proved to be capable of dominating an opponent by altering and blocking shots like no other player in the nation.

When Tech made its run to the Big 12 title and in the NCAA Tournament, Owens keyed the defense as the Red Raiders’ most versatile and dominant defender.  And the first time we caught a glimpse of just what he could do in assistant coach Mark Adams’ scheme came in Tech’s impressive comeback win over Memphis when he helped park a 33-10 run to close the game and keep his team undefeated.

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