Singletary leads Red Raiders to easy win

Mike Singletary looked at teammate Theron Jenkins and thought he saw LeBron James.
Singletary spent Wednesday night watching film of the Cavalier. When he saw Jenkins loop around for an ally-oop pass, he imagined himself dishing to the King.
The pass flew out of bounds.

Texas Tech's Mike Singletary (32) takes a shot over Northwestern State's Dominic Knight during their game Thursday night at United Spirit Arena. Singletary scored 25 points, leading Tech to a 94-75 win.

“I realized it was Theron and I was like, ‘Oh, he can’t jump as high as LeBron,’” Singletary said. “’That’s a terrible pass. Get me out of the game.’”
One bad pass couldn’t ruin an otherwise impressive performance, as Singletary finished with 25 points, 17 of them in the first half, in Tech’s 94-75 win against Northwestern State on Thursday.

While the Red Raiders rolled to 4-0 on the season, the offense came in spurts.
Tech trailed by as much as six points in the first half, with Northwestern State shooting 46.9 percent from the field.

The Demons led by one with 6 minutes, 10 seconds left in the first half when Singletary made a layup to make it 33-32 Tech. It sparked a stretch in which Singletary scored 14 points to close the half, as the Red Raiders won the stretch 19-12.

“We started off slow, real, real slow,” Singletary said. “We weren’t attacking the bucket; we were just playing lazy. That’s the reason the game was close like that. Then with about 6 minuted left, Coach (Pat Knight) brought us in, we were in the huddle, and said we got to get it going. There’s no way they should be in the game with us.”

Knight said he was disappointed with Tech’s defense in the first 20 minutes, giving up 44 points, including 12 each by Damon Jones and James Hulbin. He told his team before the game not to allow any 3-point shots, and Northwestern State made 4-of-5 attempts in the first half.

He attributed it to a little bit of an inflated ego after rolling past three opponents in last weekend’s Duel in the Desert tournament.

“I was not pleased with our defense the first half, but the kids had a great weekend,” Knight said. “Everybody’s been sitting around telling them what a great start. We were a little full of ourselves to start the game, so you have to battle that. I think they thought it was going to be easy for us.”

Tech allowed only 31 points after the break, and Knight said he saw significant improvement from the defense. The Raiders forced 12 turnovers and had 10 steals.
While this was Tech’s second-highest score of the season, Knight said he’s not too concerned with keeping the offense on a roll, knowing it will come along with the defense.

“I like where we are offensively but I don’t pay much attention to it because I want to establish us as a defensive team,” he said. “There aren’t going to be nights where you score points like this in the Big 12, so you better be able to guard somebody.”

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

Bookmark and Share

Comments

  • freddie said:

    Coming soon to the USA, LCU’s javee team!!

    (Report comment)

  • freddie said:

    I want to apologize for my previous comment. I’m just a typical A.J. codger who has nothing better to do than complain about Tech athletics. I’m the same guy that wishes for the “good ol’ ” Spike Dykes days because Leach “doesn’t know what he’s doing”. You see, I’m a miserable loser with no life, so I have to take it out by whining on these messages boards. Wow, I am so pathetic. Sorry.

    (Report comment)

  • Austin Raider said:

    Freddie, the place is yours, have at it. I’d join you but I spent all last summer griping about the heat and drought down here. I’m spent, but if Tech loses to OK this place will be hopping.

    (Report comment)

  • TeamTech said:

    There is something this team needs from the Spike Dykes’ era. It is the speed he had on defense. With the spread offenses of today, I would take a 198 lb. outside linebacker that runs a 4.3 forty like he did and his cornerbacks had NFL speed and talent.

    (Report comment)

  • Darnce said:

    1. Spike’s teams were interesting. Sometimes won a big game. Leach’s teams are very interesting. They win more games of all sorts. 2. For men’s basketball just remember: Never leave home. Never play somebody that can play.

    (Report comment)

  • Tx Tech Basketball fan said:

    This is basketball, not football, fyi. great game Mike Singletary!

    (Report comment)

  • freddie said:

    2nd freddie post! You are an impostor! At least use your own name and don’t borrow mine. You are guilty of identity fraud and since I know who you are and where you live, I’ll get you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMAO………………

    (Report comment)

  • ScarletBlack said:

    Sounds like Pat Knight and Mike Leach are joined at the hip when it comes to commenting on players being full of themselves after a good start. Ironically similar to something Mike would say. Thought that was funny.

    Great Game Singletary! Look forward to seeing you play and becoming a star at Tech this year! Knew you were going to be great when Tech recruited you in high school.

    (Report comment)

  • Mike said:

    Keep it rolling, Raiders!

    Wreck ‘em Tech

    (Report comment)

  • sooner or later said:

    first we stomp you on the gridiron, then on the hoops court

    (Report comment)

  • Country Mart said:

    Hey Sooner or later: First you lose to Texas Tech then to OSU for a magical 6-6 season for the Chokelahoma Sooners! Bob Stoops is on his way to Notre Dame! OU is on to losing in shame!

    (Report comment)

  • Tx Tech Basketball fan said:

    Hahahaha country mart, owned sooner or later.

    (Report comment)

Trackbacks

There are no trackbacks