Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders complete perfect home season

Monday night, the Texas Tech basketball team completed its first perfect home season in the history of United Supermarkets arena.  But it was far from easy.

Davion Warren hit a step-back jumper from the top of the key with 1:09 to play to put the Red Raiders up 69-68 and the home team would force Kansas State to go 0-3 from the field after that to secure a 73-68 victory.  For Warren, it was another strong performance as he paced Tech with a season-high 23 points, his third-straight double-digit scoring game.

Meanwhile, Bryson Williams was one of only two other Red Raiders in double digits.  With 19 points, most of which came in the paint, he had his fifth game this season of 19 or more points.

Tech trailed for most of the first half and for a sizeable chunk of the second as a pesky KSU squad tried desperately to earn the type of win that could have put them back on the NCAA Tournament bubble.  And it was again the 3-point shot that the Red Raiders struggled most to defend.

Hitting 10 of 25 shots from beyond the arc, the Wildcats outscored the Red Raiders 30-12 from 3-point range as the Red Raiders were just 4 of 16 on the night.  It was a continuation of Tech’s season-long struggles when it comes to keeping teams from getting hot from long distance.

But fortunately, the Red Raiders were able to do exactly what they seem to do almost every time out, dominate the paint.  With a 36-10 edge in scoring in the lane, the Red Raiders took advantage of a KSU team that lacks a rim protector and which played most of the game without a true center on the floor.

"“We knew it was going to be a tough one,” Warren said. “Nobody has beat us at home and we knew Kansas State wanted to do that tonight. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. So just stay on course, stay level-headed throughout the whole game and we got the job done.”"

Playing in his final home game for the Red Raiders, Warren was at his best.  Making 9 of 11 shots from the field, he set a personal season-high in field goals made and even made a pair of shots from beyond the arc.  And Tech desperately needed his heroics.

Getting only three points from Kevin Obanor and missing both Kevin McCullar Jr. and Daniel Batcho due to injury, the Red Raiders played short-handed.  Fortunately, Warren was able to come to the rescue.

Ten of his points came in the final 5:13 of the game as the teams were locked in a one-score battle.  And his two free throws with 14 seconds to play gave the Red Raiders their final margin of victory.  It was the 18th home win on the season for Tech marking what was arguably the best home slate in program history.  But win No. 18 was a little too close for comfort at times.  Fortunately, Tech was able to send its seniors out with one last successful ride at the U.S.A.