Texas Tech basketball: Why the Red Raiders lost to Kentucky
Kentucky was able to score in the final ten seconds of the first half and OT
This stat won’t be in any official box score but it was what turned the game for the Wildcats; points in the final ten seconds of the half or OT. For the game, Tech was unable to score any points in such possessions while Kentucky scored seven.
The biggest turn came at the end of the first half. With Tech up 34-31, UK’s Tyrese Maxey hit a jumper with eight seconds remaining. Then a boneheaded turnover by Chris Clarke gave the ball back to the Wildcats, who then got a half-court 3 from Quickley.
After neither team scored in the final ten seconds of regulation, in OT, Richards had the game-winning free-throws with 10 seconds to play. On Tech’s final possession of the game, the Red Raiders didn’t even get a shot off.
This year, the Red Raiders are 0-3 in overtime games. In those three losses, the Red Raiders failed to score in the final ten seconds of regulation or OT.
Next. Kentucky loss similar to National Title Game. dark
This goes back to the idea that the team is lacking a closer the likes of Keenan Evans or Jarrett Culver. Saturday, it was Davide Moretti with the ball in his hands in the final ten seconds of regulation and OT and he simply couldn’t make the play either time. It will be interesting to see if Tech tries something else moving forward.