By Jeff Walker | A-J SPORTS EDITOR

Texas Tech 81, Saint Francis 47

Trevor Cook provided the spark, Nick Okorie added some kerosene and Texas Tech got off to a blazing start Friday with an 81-47 victory over St. Francis (Pa.).

The 34-point victory, in front of an announced crowd of 9,961 at United Spirit Arena, is the largest margin of victory by a Tech head coach in his first full season.

Pat Knight, who coached the last 11 games last season, was on the bench for the previous high when Bob Knight guided Tech to a 75-55 win over William & Mary on Nov. 19, 2001.

“We came in against a tremendous opponent,” St. Francis head coach Don Friday said. “Coach Knight, as he makes his identity here, that’s a fun brand of basketball that they’re going to play here for a long time. … No excuses. Coach Knight’s kids played tremendous. They played with great purpose and they played hard. They represented the university with a lot of class.”

The Red Flash opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers before Cook came off the bench to score eight of 10 points. His two 3-pointers in a 1:39 span capped a 12-0 run and Okorie buried the first of his four 3-pointers that gave Tech the lead for good at the 11:23 mark of the first half.

When the NCAA changed its rules and moved the 3-point line back a foot to 20’9, some thought teams might struggle from beyond the arc. The Red Raiders shot 45 percent, led by Okorie, who went 4 of 6.

“I thought Nick started off slow and then he can heat up,” Knight said. “That’s Nick. … You either want to kill him or you love him. I didn’t like him very much at the beginning and then all of the sudden – in four or five minutes – I mean, the kid can score. He’s just an explosive player.”

Tech’s biggest lead of the first half came after the Red Raiders’ last play when Okorie drove to the basket and dished behind him to Michael Prince, who buried a jumper to give Tech a 43-24 lead.

The Red Raiders continued to build their lead early in the second half and Knight emptied his bench with 7:37 remaining. Tech led 68-35 at that point.

Okorie led three players in double figures with 16 points, while sophomore John Roberson added 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in 29 minutes.

Cook scored 10 points – all in the first half – and played only 15 minutes.

“Everybody was hyped up and we were all nervous,” Roberson said. “(Cook) came in, cut the lead down, and then we felt a little more comfortable and that’s when we got things going.”

Alan Voskuil figured to be Tech’s go-to player as the leading returning scorer, but the 6-foot-3 guard finished with just eight points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field.

Knight said the added talent should help alleviate pressure on Voskuil and Roberson to be the Red Raiders’ lone scoring options.

“(Cook) provides a little spark because he can (play) in and out,” Voskuil said. “He can get inside and he can shoot the 3-pointer for us.”

Every player received minutes for the Red Raiders, including walk-on Wally Dunn of Midland, who finished with five points.

Tech (1-0) will host Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. Monday.

SAINT FRANCIS 47

FG FT REB

Min. M-A M-A O T PF A TP

Sweetney 25 3-11 3-4 2 9 3 1 11

Hoffman 19 0-2 0-0 0 4 2 0 0

Spaid 11 0-0 0-0 0 1 2 0 0

Ford 27 2-5 5-6 0 1 0 2 11

Nelson 35 3-6 0-0 0 2 1 2 8

McFarland 10 1-1 0-0 2 3 3 0 2

Jukic 20 4-10 2-2 1 5 2 0 10

Orandi 7 0-4 0-0 0 1 1 1 0

Surpenant 15 1-7 0-0 0 1 1 0 3

Jackson 13 0-1 0-0 1 2 2 0 0

Profeta 18 0-3 2-2 2 3 3 2 2

1 3 Totals 200 14-54 12-14 9 35 20 8 47

TEXAS TECH 81

FG FT REB

Min. M-A M-A O T PF A TP

Roberts 20 1-2 2-4 1 3 2 1 4

Cohadarevic 12 1-2 2-2 0 2 1 0 4

Voskuil 23 3-7 0-0 1 3 0 2 8

Roberson 29 4-8 5-6 0 5 0 5 13

Okorie 19 6-12 4-6 1 1 1 2 16

Craig 9 0-3 0-0 0 1 0 1 0

Graham 17 2-5 2-2 0 3 2 1 6

Ray 7 1-3 0-0 2 3 1 0 2

Dunn 8 2-3 0-0 0 1 0 2 5

Lewandowski 8 1-3 0-0 1 3 2 0 2

Cook 15 4-7 0-0 2 3 2 0 10

Prince 12 2-2 1-2 1 5 1 1 5

Singletary 13 2-4 2-2 2 5 1 1 6

Suljagic 8 0-1 0-0 0 1 2 1 0

0 3 Totals 200 29-62 14-18 11 42 15 15 81

Saint Francis 24 23 – 47

Texas Tech 43 38 – 81

Records: Saint Francis 0-1, Texas Tech 1-0. Shooting percentages: Saint Francis 25.9% FG, 33.3% 3-pt. FG, 85.7% FT; Texas Tech 46.8% FG, 45% 3-pt. FG, 77.8% FT. 3-point goals: Saint Francis 7-21 (Sweetney 2-4, Ford 2-4, Nelson 2-5, Surprenant 1-7); Texas Tech 9-20 (Okorie 4-6, Cook 2-3, Voskuil 2-6, Dunn 1-2). Steals: Saint Francis 7 (Ford 2, Sweetney, McFarland, Jukic, Orandi, Jackson); Texas Tech 7 (Voskuil 3, Roberson 3, Roberts). Blocked shots: Saint Francis 1 (Jukic); Texas Tech 4 (Cohadarevic, Graham, Lewandowski, Cook). Turnovers: Saint Francis 23, Texas Tech 15. Total fouls: Saint Francis 20, Texas Tech 15. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None. Officials: Hal Lusk, Randy Heimerman, Henry Howard. Attendance: 9,961.

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