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Texas Tech basketball: The top games of Matt Mooney’s Red Raider career

By Matthew Conner

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Matt Mooney #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is introduced prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Matt Mooney #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is introduced prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

Mooney does a little bit of everything to help Tech beat Iowa State, clinch Big 12 title

When the Red Raiders beat Iowa State in Ames to clinch a share of the Big 12 regular-season title most of the focus was on Jarrett Culver’s career-high 31 points (and rightfully so).  What’s more, Davide Moretti was fantastic with 20 points, which included 4-4 shooting from 3-point range.

But somewhat overlooked from that game was the work of Mooney, who not only had 13 critical points, he also came down with six rebounds, five assists, and four steals in Tech’s 80-73 win.  Though Mooney had the reputation of being a scorer, his game was far more well-rounded and that was on display in the regular-season finale.

The Cyclones opened the game with an 8-0 run but Tech was able to weather the storm.  And when Mooney stole the ball away from Lindell Wigginton and found Jarrett Culver for a three on the other end, the Red Raiders took their first lead of the game 21-20 at the 8:09 mark.

In the final minute before the intermission, Mooney and Moretti each hit a key 3-pointer to cut an 8-point ISU lead to just 36-34 at the break.  Fortunately, he was able to keep his offensive touch in the second half.

Scoring eight points in the final 20 minutes, Mooney helped Tech keep pace in what proved to be a game that was primarily played within a margin of no more than two or three possessions after the break.

At the 18:11 mark, he evened the game at 41-41 with a layup.  Five minutes later, he capped a 10-0 Red Raider run with another layup to put his team up 51-45.

After ISU cut the Tech lead to 53-50, Mooney hit a jumper to restore the five-point Tech lead. He would round out his scoring with two free throws that put Tech up 57-52 with just under nine minutes to go.

But it was a missed 3-pointer that could have been his best play of the game.  It was a play that showed Mooney’s true intelligence and game awareness.

With Tech up 70-65 and 2:05 left in the game, Culver drove to the rim with just three seconds remaining on the shot clock.  He kicked the ball out to Mooney in the corner who had to jump to corral the ball and shoot it in one motion to avoid a shot clock violation.

Mooney was somehow able to get the shot to hit the rim and Tariq Owens pulled down the offensive rebound and drew a foul as he went back up for a shot.  Owens then hit both of his free throws to give Tech a 72-65 lead.

It was the type of heady play we came to expect from Mooney.  What’s more, those are the type of plays seniors are supposed to make and it was a great example of why Beard has dabbled so heavily in the grad transfer market.

This was the first Big 12 title for the Texas Tech basketball program and when we remember the day they clinched, we will think of Culver’s heroics and Moretti’s big shots.  But Tech would not have won that game without a stellar all-around performance from Matt Mooney.

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