Today, the Texas Tech basketball team wraps up its non-conference slate by hosting Lamar. Following this game, the Red Raiders will be off until opening Big 12 play against UCF in Lubbock on December 31.
The Red Raiders enter the game 8-2 on the season. Meanwhile, Lamar is 6-5 thanks to a five-game winning streak.
Interestingly, these teams do have a common opponent, Texas A&M. In the second game of the season, Lamar fell to the Aggies 92-71 in College Station. Of course, earlier this month, the Red Raiders lost to A&M 72-67 in Fort Worth.
That's the only major-conference opponent that the Cardinals have faced this year. What's more, it was one of six road games that they have played already. In fact, today's game will be the fifth straight road game for Lamar. Given that they have won their last four, it is fair to believe that they won't be fazed by playing in Lubbock.
Also, with the students gone and Christmas right around the corner, we can expect a less-than-capacity crowd at United Supermarkets Arena for an early afternoon tip-off. Thus, the Red Raiders might have to manufacture their own energy today.
Of course, the biggest question is whether star Red Raider sophomore forward JT Toppin will play after missing the last three games with a minor knee injury. The hope is that he will return to knock the rust off before heading into the gauntlet that is the Big 12.
If he doesn't, it will be interesting to see if 6-foot-11 senior forward Federiko Federiko can follow up his career day on Monday night, a game that saw him score 23 points and grab 12 rebounds against Oral Roberts, with another solid showing. That would be a great sign for the Red Raiders with conference play looming.
Though this game isn't against a marquee opponent and though the College Football Playoff will be going on at the same time, Tech basketball fans will want to tune in to see how head coach Grant McCasland's team looks in its final tuneup before league play. So here's all the game info fans need to know before this game tips off.
Texas Tech vs. Lamar broadcast info
Tip: 12:00 p.m. Central
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network
Streaming: Varsity Network
Texas Tech vs. Lamar series history
Texas Tech leads the all-time series 4-1 over Lamar. Last meeting: Tech won 89-57 on Nov. 27, 2021 in Lubbock.
Texas Tech vs. Lamar Odds
Odds courtesy of FanDuel.com.
Favorite | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|
Texas Tech -23.5 | Lamar +2400 | 142.5 |
Texas Tech vs. Lamar game notes
Game notes courtesy of TexasTech.com.
- Texas Tech is on a 37-game winning streak in non-conference home games... Last loss on Jan. 25, 2020 against Kentucky.
- Chance McMillian has scored 20+ in 3 straight games after 20 against ORU.
- McMillian is currently leading the Big 12 by shooting 53.8 percent from 3-point range while Darrion Williams leads the conference at the free-throw line with an 89.2 percentage.
- Texas Tech comes into the game leading the Big 12 and are fourth nationally with a 59.4 effective field goal percentage along with being second within the conference by shooting 39.8 percent from 3-point range and 78.4 percent at the free-throw line
- Tech remains unranked in the national polls but has boosted itself up to No. 23 in the Kenpom.com ratings and No. 28 in the NCAA NET in updates posted on Wednesday morning.
- Lamar is shooting 46.0 percent from the field, has made 78 3-pointers, and leads
the Southland Conference with 16.5 assists per game.
- Lamar is led by Alvin Brooks who was an assistant coach at Texas Tech during the time when McCasland was the program's director of operations. Brooks has also coached at Houston,
Kentucky, Texas A&M, UTEP and North Texas. The Cardinals are coming off a season where they went 19-14 overall and were 12-6 in Southland Conference play. Brooks is in his ninth season as a head coach that includes five as the head coach at Houston (1993-98) and three in Beaumont.