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Texas Tech basketball: Hidden turning points in Red Raiders’ victory over WVU

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 29: Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders handles the ball against forward Gabe Osabuohien #3 and forward Miles McBride #4 of the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half of the college basketball game on January 29, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 29: Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders handles the ball against forward Gabe Osabuohien #3 and forward Miles McBride #4 of the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half of the college basketball game on January 29, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Tech has a five-point possession thanks to a technical

Sometimes freshmen make stupid mistakes and the technical foul that WVU freshman Oscar Tshiebwe picked up early in the second half certainly falls into the category of “stupid mistakes”.   It also provided the Red Raiders with an opportunity to open up some breathing room.

With 16:28 to play in the game, Tech led 51-46 as Tshiebwe blocked a T.J. Holyfield shot.  But after the play, the WVU big man was given a technical for trash-talking in Holyfield’s direction.

After Davide Moretti hit the two free throws, Tech got the ball back and when Jahmi’us Ramsey hit a step-back 3-pointer at the top of the key with a defender in his face, Tech had extended its lead to 56-46.  After that point, the Mountaineers would not get any closer than seven points.

Tshiebwe simply has to be more aware of the tone of the game and perhaps when he is more experienced, that’s something he will be more cognizant of.  This was a moment in the game when the referees were desperately trying to rein in both teams. In fact, they had already handed out a technical to both teams in the second half.  Thus, every player on the court needed to be aware that they were not going to get away with anything extra.

This was a huge moment in the game.  Just over a minute earlier, the Red Raider lead was only 47-44.  But this five-point possession was the crowning moment of a 9-2 run that essentially gave Tech a lead that would not be seriously challenged again.

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