BY JEFF WALKER l A-J SPORTS EDITOR

Texas Tech has played poorly at times this season, which has helped the Red Raiders get off to a 1-6 start in Big 12 Conference play.

Tech hasn’t had much luck either.

The Red Raiders opened conference play against a Baylor team that had lost its previous home game – by a point to South Carolina – before having 10 days off to try and rebound against Tech.

The Red Raiders lost.

Then-No. 11 Texas came next, fresh off a nationally televised loss to Oklahoma.

The Red Raiders lost.

Texas A&M, Nebraska and Oklahoma State each played Tech while on losing streaks of at least two games.

The Red Raiders were competitive in all three games, but still lost.

Next on the schedule is a rematch with the Bears, who are reeling from a four-game losing streak. Baylor, predicted to contend for a conference title and considered by many a lock for an NCAA Tournament berth, now finds itself needing wins in the final month of the regular season.

Both teams come into today’s game desperate for a victory.

“We’ve got to move onto the next one and try to get a win,” Tech head coach Pat Knight said following Wednesday’s 81-80 loss to the Cowboys, the Red Raiders’ fourth loss in a row. “These kids need a win badly.”

Prior to their current slide, the Bears were contending for a bye in the conference tournament after winning three of their first four Big 12 games. Their recent slide, however, has plummeted Baylor (15-7, 3-5 Big 12) into an eighth-place tie with A&M.

One coach who could empathize with Knight’s frustration was OSU’s Travis Ford, who like Knight is in his first season with the Cowboys.

“I hate it, because I really like Pat Knight a lot. He’s always been very, very kind to me, very nice,” Ford said after Byron Eaton’s layup with 29.4 seconds Wednesday helped the Cowboys stop a two-game slide. “I think he’s going to have a bright future there when he gets things going there. It’s tough (because) both teams needed to win.”

Tech’s loss at Oklahoma State was similar to the defeat against Baylor when the teams met in Waco for the conference opener.

The Red Raiders jumped out to an early lead before the home team came charging back. The Bears caught up in the first half and, while Tech made a run in the second half, a 3-point barrage by LaceDarius Dunn midway through the second half put Baylor in control.

Tech led for nearly the entire game in Stillwater before the Cowboys made a run late in the second half. OSU led for the first time at the 2:24 mark, but the Red Raiders still had a chance to win before John Roberson’s jump shot was off the mark with 13 seconds remaining.

“This league is tough. No lead is safe, I don’t care who you play in this league,” Knight said. “My kids didn’t fall apart (at OSU). My kids stuck it out and played their — off. We just didn’t get the win.”

If Tech is going to get the win it desperately seeks, the Red Raiders are going to have to contain the Bears’ guards.

Dunn scored 11 consecutive points to help then-No. 23 Baylor escape with a 73-61 win. In last season’s meeting in Lubbock, Dunn scored a career-high 38 points as the Bears won 86-73 at United Spirit Arena.

• Who: Texas Tech men vs. Baylor

• When: 7 p.m. today

• Where: United Spirit Arena

• Records: Tech 11-11, 1-6 in Big 12; Baylor 15-7, 3-5

• TV: ESPNU

• Radio: KKAM 1340 AM, KQBR 99.5 FM

To comment on this story:
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com uE06C 766-8735
terry.greenberg@lubbockonline.com uE06C 766-8700

About the game: Texas Tech leads the all-time series 73-44, but Baylor has won the last three games against the Red Raiders. … Baylor head coach Scott Drew is 5-6 against Tech. … Baylor guard LaceDarius Dunn has made a 3-pointer in 27 consecutive games, which ranks third in school history. He is one game away from tying former teammate Aaron Bruce. … The Bears have trailed at halftime in six of their eight Big 12 Conference games. One of the two games in which Baylor has led was in the conference opener against Tech. … Baylor is 4-10 when Curtis Jerrells is held to fewer than 10 points. … Tech is 42-12 against Baylor in Lubbock. … Tech guard John Roberson is averaging 6.3 assists per game. He’s averaging 6.9 during conference play. … Baylor has swept a season series only twice under Drew – last year against Tech and in his first year against Texas A&M.

Compiled by Jeff Walker

Baylor

Player Pos. Ht. Cl. Ppg.

Tweety Carter G 5-11 Jr. 10.6

Curtis Jerrells G 6-1 Sr. 16.2

Henry Dugat G 6-0 Sr. 12.4

Quincy Acy F 6-7 Fr. 6.8

Kevin Rogers F 6-9 Sr. 12.4

Texas Tech

Player Pos. Ht. Cl. Ppg.

John Roberson G 5-11 So. 14.6

Alan Voskuil G 6-3 Sr. 13.9

Michael Prince F 6-7 Sr. 4.2

D’walyn Roberts F 6-7 So. 6-6

Robert Lewandowski C 6-10 Fr. 6.5