Red Raiders lose on road to tough Cardinals team
By Jeff Walker l Avalanche-Journal
BEAUMONT – Much like they did a year ago, Texas Tech players and coaches may end up pointing to a road loss to a Southland Conference team as a critical blow to a postseason appearance.
The Red Raiders, playing shorthanded on Saturday night at Lamar, got off to a fast start but cooled quickly in an 85-79 loss at the Montagne Center.
The Red Raiders (7-2) lost 56-54 last season at Sam Houston State in the second game of the season. The loss – along with a road loss to Centenary – probably cost Tech a shot at the National Invitation Tournament.
“Our defense just folded,” Tech head coach Pat Knight said. “That’s been our M.O. for every game, even games we’ve won. Our guys just won’t play defense in the second half. Teams get hot, but we’ll go back to that film and a lot of (Lamar’s) buckets were layups. That’s why they shot such a high percentage, I think our defense just folded in the second half.”
The Cardinals, who have now won 18 in a row at home, shot 68 percent in the second half and 50 percent for the game.
Kenny Dawkins finished with a game-high 22 points for Lamar (7-3). After scoring just 3 points in the first half, the 5-foot-9 guard led the Cardinals’ charge. He was 6 of 11 after halftime after missing six of seven shots before the break.
“We decided at halftime that they couldn’t guard the drive very much,” Dawkins said. “Coach just told us to get to the basket and try to score or get to the free-throw line.”
Knight didn’t use it as an excuse, but the Red Raiders played without two players normally in the rotation.
Junior guard Nick Okorie didn’t make the trip after suffering a badly sprained ankle in practice. Michael Prince was on the bench, but he wasn’t dressed after he suffered a sprained ankle in Tech’s last game Dec. 3 against Wichita State.
“That’s why you have 13 scholarships and not five,” Knight said. “We just really didn’t have anybody step in for Nick or Prince tonight.”
Knight said he didn’t know when either player would return. Prince made the trip but didn’t dress, while Okorie remained in Lubbock to continue rehabilitation.
Tech plays again Wednesday at UTEP.
With fewer players, the Red Raiders couldn’t afford an off night and they had one.
John Roberson made his first three field goals and scored eight points in the game’s first five minutes. He only made three field goals – on 22 attempts – the rest of the game.
Mike Singletary had trouble around the basket, missing 9 of 11 field goals.
If there was a ray of encouragement for Tech, the Red Raiders outrebounded the Cardinals, 41-39. Tech grabbed 18 offensive boards, led by D’walyn Roberts’ nine boards (five on offense).
Despite the cold shooting, the Red Raiders still had a chance when Voskuil nailed a 3-pointer with 37 seconds to play to cut Tech’s deficit to 78-77.
Dawkins was fouled and he split the two free throws, but Jay Brown grabbed the offensive rebound, was fouled, and he sunk two free throws to push the Lamar lead to 81-77 with 32 seconds to play.
Roberts was called for offensive goaltending on Tech’s next possession and the Red Raiders were forced to foul again.
Brandon McThay made both free throws to seal the win. The Cardinals (7-3) hit seven free throws in the final minute.
To comment on this story: jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com 766-8735
terry.greenberg@lubbockonline.com 766-8700
LAMAR 85, TEXAS TECH 79
TEXAS TECH – Roberts 7-8 0-0 14, Cook 3-7 5-5 11, Singletary 2-11 1-2 5, Voskuil 6-15 3-4 19, Roberson 6-22 4-6 18, Craig 1-2 0-0 2, Graham 0-2 2-2 2, Dunn 0-0 0-0 0, Lewandowski 0-0 0-0 0, Cohadarevic 4-7 0-0 8, Suljagic 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-74 15-19 79.
LAMAR – Brown 6-9 7-8 19, Worrell 1-6 0-0 2, McThay 5-9 5-7 17, Dawkins 7-18 6-7 22, Hall 1-2 2-2 4, Miles 0-2 0-0 0, Williams 5-7 1-4 11, Custer 5-7 0-0 10. Totals 30-60 21-28 85.
Halftime-Lamar 34-32. 3-Point Goals-Texas Tech 6-27 (Voskuil 4-10, Roberson 2-11, Graham 0-1, Craig 0-1, Singletary 0-2, Cook 0-2), Lamar 4-15 (McThay 2-4, Dawkins 2-6, Williams 0-1, Miles 0-1, Hall 0-1, Brown 0-2). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Texas Tech 41 (Roberts 9), Lamar 39 (Brown 9). Assists-Texas Tech 15 (Roberson, Singletary 5), Lamar 21 (Dawkins, Williams 6). Total Fouls-Texas Tech 21, Lamar 16. A-6,182. Records: Texas Tech 7-2, Lamar 7-3.
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why in Raider Red’;s name to w tend to ALWAYS lose and even get embarrassed in these games we play right after the finals break and especially the first one after the Christmas break??? I don’t care who it is against but as of late we seem to get our butts kicked in these two games. Are the guys (and even girls) just not ready or what. Crap! I thought that’s what coaches were for. I know coaches coach and players must finish games, but , duh, how come the TCU’s and the Lamar’s of the world seem to always beat us in these games after lay-offs. In other words, Coach Pat, the honey moon was over after the first game. Lets see some tough basketball and some WINS. Your in charge and not just an innocent by-stander. Go kick their butts like “Big Daddy” and get this young team in gear NOW. Or it is gonna be a long year.
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Tech basketball is bad !
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Well, the Raiders did get their first true road test, and they failed it miserably!!! A loss to Lamar?!!! I hope that Pat Knight is as tough as his father and he kicks those boys butts good!!! If they want to compete in the Big 12 they had BETTER learn some damn defense, and play it for both halves. Last year the Tech team had this problem, and it is rearing its ugly head this year. Are these guys too dense, too weak, too INEPT to understand that in order to win you have to play the entire game. Good Grief! Get some leadership and some cajones, guys. Man up and play like it matters for the entire game. You have the whole Raider Nation watching you, pulling for you, and hoping that you will come together to be the Cinderella Story of the season, but with this kind of lack luster effort, you will be nothing but a pathetic, laughable, and forgotten bunch of misfits. GET IT TOGETHER.
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What happened to my 3:00am comment???!!! I said I was sick and tired of our basketball team always (I MEAN 4 OUT OF 5) losing their games after the finals break and especially the Christmas break. We come back from grandma’s house or some place and always get our candy and toys robbed from us. And it is always a low-life team like Lamar, Sam Houston, or TCU. What I was trying to say was that coach Pat you are ultimately responsible. I’m already tired of your, “Gee – can you believe those guys play!” type remarks! Stop distancing yourself from your own freakin team unless Lbk is in your rear-view mirror. We like you and think you can do the job. We support you. This is the first negative thing I’ve said. I’m just madder than hell about losing those games after lay-offs when you don’t see some of our in-state buddies losing those same games. What you see them usually do is go kick somebody’s n***ts . And, other than just a rare occassion that’s what we want to get back to. Just pretend like you or your dad if you must. But get in their faces and challenge them to finish games and get the job done!! MAN UP!!!
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I’m a Red Raider fan living in Lexington, KY–home of University of Kentucky Basketball. They started the season with a HOME loss to Virginia Military Institute (not a good team), and even they didn’t receive such harsh criticism as the above comment.
I don’t like the loss, either, but this is the first game that they shouldn’t have lost.
I’m pretty pleased with this team’s start. Hopefully they can use this experience to play harder, shore up some weaknesses, and get ready to surprise some people when conference play rolls around.
I know Coach Knight will get the most out of these boys. I think Tech basketball has a bright future.
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I think Tech basketball has a brite future, too. I just wonder though, why we always seem to lose those games after we come back from finals week or a Christmas break. I don’t notice that seemingly always happening to other teams. So, please somehow get our guys ready for these type games and so we’re not somebody’s sacrificial goat or something. Coach Knight you don’t have Big Daddy around to do the dirty work, so get with the program and get em to finish games! I don’t care if there is just one fan in the arena we need to win the game and continue rebuilding this team.
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Yeah, flash – like why are we losing to the Lamar’s, Sam Houston’s, and TCU’s of the world after these type breaks? I thought that’s what coaching was for – it is supposed to be anyway. I don’t care if we are short-handed a little . Twelve of our guys ought ta be able to beat their guys most any day of the week. If we can’t –GEEZE– we better take another look at our direction really fast!!
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