Texas Tech basketball fans still buzzing over Red Raiders' play of the year

There's been no denying that the Texas Tech basketball team is one of the most offensively talented teams in college basketball this season. However, even the most hard-core Red Raider fans are having a hard time believing the play that their team pulled off in the first half of Wednesday night's 91-75 victory over Colorado.

With 5:08 to play in the first half, Tech led the last-place Buffaloes 30-22. That's when the Red Raiders got a stop with Kevin Overton rebounding a missed shot on the defensive end.

What transpired next, no one saw coming. Overton started a fast break as he tried to beat the Colorado defense down the court.

However, as he neared mid-court, he threw a wild outlet pass to Elijah Hawkins. Initially, it appeared as if Overton had led the 5-foot-10 Hawkins by way too much. Thus, Tech fans initially feared that this opportunity to extend the lead would end in a turnover.

However, Hawkins was able to stretch out enough to get a hand on the ball and keep it in play. Still, though, he wasn't able to bring it under control while staying in bounds.

Fortunately, the heady senior saw Darrion Williams cutting toward him through the paint. That allowed Hawkins to send a behind-the-back pass to Williams to keep the play alive.

While all of that action drew the attention of three Colorado defenders to the lane, Red Raider guard Chance McMillian snuck into position for a 3-point attempt on the wing. As soon as Williams got the ball from Hawkins, he casually flipped it to McMillian who drilled the shot to put his team ahead by 11 points.

This play was not only beautiful, but it was also a critical moment in the first 20 minutes of action. Less than two minutes earlier, Colorado had crept to within 25-22 after once trailing 12-2.

However, the Red Raiders responded with an 8-0 run thanks to a bucket by JT Toppin, a 3-pointer from Williams, and this play that forced Colorado to call a time-out to regroup. Though the Buffs would quickly cut the lead back down to single digits, the Red Raiders would ride the wave of momentum from this play to a 12-point halftime advantage.

While it is hard to point to just one play in a basketball game that makes the difference, this unreal play by the Red Raiders was certainly a huge moment in the game. Instead of turning the ball over and wasting a fast-break opportunity, Tech hit an early dagger to cap off a run that kept the under-manned and upset-minded Buffaloes at bay.

For the game, Tech was able to limit turnovers. The Red Raiders gave the ball away only six times while handing out 18 assists. This play looked like it was going to be a frustrating giveaway, but in the blink of an eye, it turned into the play of the year for Texas Tech, and fans have been buzzing about it since.