Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech basketball classics: Unranked Red Raiders topple No. 3 OU in 2016

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 17: Toddrick Gotcher #20 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on February 17, 2016 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 65-63. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 17: Toddrick Gotcher #20 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on February 17, 2016 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 65-63. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Aaron Ross #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
Aaron Ross #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Tech’s role players came up huge

To upset the No. 3 team in the nation, everyone on the team has to take their game to a new level.  That’s what the Red Raider role players did in this upset of OU.

More from Wreck'Em Red

The leading scorer that day was Aaron Ross, who had 17 points off of the bench.  Shooting 6-12 overall and 3-4 from deep, he was tremendous, especially in the first half when he helped keep the Red Raiders in the game with his outside shooting.

Though he was just 3-10 from the field, Gotcher hit some big shots as well on his way to 8 points.  Aside from the late 3-pointer that we’ve already mentioned, his best moment was when he beat the first-half buzzer with a layup to stake Tech to a 34-31 edge at the break.  He also spent a huge part of his day harassing Hield, which had to have taken its toll on the OU star as Gotcher was a relentless dog on defense.

We also have to mention the work of Matthew Temple, the former fraternity league intramural champ who walked on to the Texas Tech basketball program.  The big man had moved into the starting lineup a few games prior because of Odiase’s broken foot and he gave his team five points, four rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes while also doing a ton of the dirty work that was required to win.

In all, Tech won the battle of the benches 25-7 thanks in large part to Ross.  And time and time again, it was the Tech role players making critical hustle plays in key moments.

To understand how Tech won this game, we should look at a late possession which was one of the most important of the contest.  Following a Texas Tech timeout with 1:19 to play and with the home team ahead 62-61, the red raiders came down with back-to-back offensive rebounds to kill 40 seconds before Evans drew a foul from Hield, which led to a pair of free throws.

Related Story. Possible starting lineups without Moretti. light

After this game, the Red Raiders would go on to win two more games to run their winning streak to five.  That essentially sealed the NCAA Tournament bid in Tubby Smith’s final season and none of those wins were more noteworthy than this upset of the Sooners in Lubbock.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball