Payback time

On Dec. 13, 2008, Texas Tech traveled to Beaumont for what should have been an easy win against Lamar.

Instead, the Red Raiders walked away with an 85-79 loss.

Tech forward Mike Singletary said after Thursday’s 94-75 win against Northwestern State that this year’s rematch will be all about payback, a fact he’s certain the Cardinals already know well.

“They have tapes of us from last year and they’re going to come in thinking ‘Oh, it’s the same team as last year, just a few different guys,’ but we’re a different team this year,” Singletary said. “We’re going to set the tone on Saturday. As I said, it’s going to be a payback game, and I think we’re ready for it.”

Alan Voskuil led the 2008 Red Raiders with 19 points, while John Roberson had 18 and D’walyn Roberts had 14. Tech trailed 34-32 at the half. Lamar made 68 percent of its second-half buckets, while Tech made just 39.5 percent.

It’s given the Raiders perspective on what could happen Saturday.

“We expect they’re going to come in and try to get a good team at home,” Singletary said. “They’re going to come in and play hard.”

Roberson’s defense

John Roberson averaged 10.3 points per game heading into Thursday night. Against Northwestern State, though, the junior point guard scored just 4 points on 2-of-9 shooting. Twice in the first half he tried for a 3-pointer from the right elbow, but when the shot wouldn’t fall he began dishing out assists.

Knight said it was a sign Roberson is maturing

“In the past when his shot wasn’t falling, he tended to mope a little bit,” Knight said. “(Thursday) he just kept playing. I thought he was great. It wasn’t like he was taking bad shots. There’s going to be nights, I don’t care how good of a scorer you are, it’s going to go in and out. But if you play defense I’ll keep you in the game.”

Follow instructions

Knight gave the team two instructions before Thursday’s game:

1. Don’t give up any 3-pointers.

2. Don’t let Northwestern State dribble the full length of the court.

“So what did the kid do?” Knight said in reference to a late-game play by the Cardinals. “He dribbled the full length of the floor and then a minute later he got an open three.”

Knight said he was disappointed not for the five points Tech lost, but because the team stopped playing defense when it thought the game was won.

“Kids have to learn you don’t just coach to the scoreboard, you don’t play to the scoreboard,” Knight said. “You’ve got to play to the end.