Tech grabs key road win over OU
NORMAN, Okla. — Two point five seconds left. Oklahoma ball. Texas Tech leads — by one.
Cade Davis stands on the baseline, throws a chest pass to Tommy Mason-Griffin, who shoots a 3-pointer that looks perfect, but isn’t.
That’s how Tech (16-7, 4-5 in Big 12) collected a much-needed Big 12 Conference road win on Tuesday, defeating Oklahoma 72-71.
Texas Tech guard Nick Okorie, right, reaches in to take the ball away from Oklahoma guard Tommy Mason-Griffin, rear left, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Texas Tech won 72-71. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Texas Tech guard John Roberson, center, goes up for a shot between Oklahoma forward Ryan Wright, left, and guard Tommy Mason-Griffin, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma guard Ray Willis, right, defends, as Texas Tech guard David Tairu, left, goes up for a shot in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
“We’re trying to get to the tournament this year, and we really needed this road win,” Tech point guard John Roberson said. “It puts us at 4-5 (in conference games), and hopefully we can keep this streak alive on Saturday at home.”
Roberson led Tech’s scoring, driving the lane all night on his way to 22 points, including a perfect 7-of-7 foul shooting. The Red Raiders’ post play proved equally impressive, as Darko Cohadarevic and Robert Lewandowski combined for 17 points and 13 rebounds while battling OU’s monster freshman forward, Tiny Gallon.
“I knew Tommy Mason-Griffin was in foul trouble, so he wasn’t going to foul me,” Roberson said. “I was trying to be aggressive. The lane was opening up on the ball screen, Darko and Lew were setting ball screens for me, so I was trying to be aggressive.”
Tech finished 15-of-16 from the free-throw line, giving the team its second consecutive win essentially earned at the charity stripe. But coach Pat Knight said he would have liked to have shot closer to 25 free throws.”
“We actually didn’t get the line as much as we wanted,” Knight said, “but we shot them well.”
Oklahoma played without two key freshman reserves. Steven Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald both watched the game in street clothes a day after being cited with petty larceny in connection with a shoplifting incident on Saturday.
On the other hand, the Sooners had the benefit of leading scorer Willie Warren, who missed Tech’s 75-65 win in Lubbock on Jan. 23 with a sprained ankle. Back in the starting lineup Tuesday, Warren led the Sooners with 18 points.
“He gave a spark tonight; they fed off his energy,” Roberson said. “We just had to deal with him.”
Oklahoma (13-10, 4-5) had a six-point lead 6½ minutes into the game, but Tech took the lead on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a Mike Davis reverse layup and David Tairu’s 3-pointer.
OU kept it close, tying the score at 23-23 when D’walyn Roberts took the lead back on a dunk with 7:07 remaining in the half. From there Tech closed the half on a 13-5 run.
Tech kept up its offense to start the second half, building a 12-point lead. But Cohadarevic picked up his fourth foul with 13:55 left to play, and Gallon used the opportunity to bother the Raiders. He was called for goaltending on a layup by Nick Okorie, but soon posted up to make it an eight-point game and repeated the move to cut Tech’s lead to six with 12:06 to play.
“He went for rebounds a lot harder than the tapes we watched,” Cohadarevic said. “He’s close to 300 pounds. Guys like that, you just have to try to contain him, not let him spin the baseline, and rely on your teammates to be on the help side. Guys like that are so powerful you have to play them with the entire team, not one-on-one.”
Tech settled into its post defense, in part by bringing Roberts off the bench to help out down low, and got its lead back to 60-48 with 9:27 on the clock.
The Raiders’ trouble grew when Lewandowski committed his fourth foul with 7:23 to go, sending Warren to the line, where he made both free throws and put the Sooners back within seven points. Tech stretched it back to double digits, but Mason-Griffin made a 4-point play and Gallon dunked to make it 67-63, Tech’s smallest lead since the first half.
“We made some bad plays, but they get you playing better than what you’re used to,” Knight said. “We knew it was going to happen, they were going to make a run. They play well at home and they’re going to come at you.”
OU kept within six points of Tech for most of the final five minutes and stole the momentum enough to come within one possession and even miss several opportunities to take the lead. It was 72-69 Tech when Warren picked off a pass and alley-ooped to Crocker, who drew Cohadarevic’s fifth foul and sank two shots at the free-throw line. That made it a one-point game with 48.7 seconds left.
“I was a little nervous because they have good players who can knock down shots, and they were on a little run right there,” Roberson said. “Yeah, I was a little nervous, but we got the win.”
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Wonder how some of you are going to make this win a negative thing? Not sure how, but you’ll come up with something.
Great job getting the win guys!
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“Steven Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald both watched the game in street clothes”
From Dillard’s, I’m guessing…
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Don’t care if the two freshman were out for OU. This is a HUGE win for this team. On the road, tough place to play against a very good team. Watch out if this team continues this kind of play especially if Roberts gets close to 100%. ANd next year could be really special. It’s time to give the younger Knight his due. This team is – and will be – good for awhile.
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Important and critical road victory! Good job team, Coach Pat Knight and coaching staff.
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I mean like WHOA!!!!!!!!! No I mean really like WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all right all right – WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the road even! Keep it up Raiders! :-))
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Great win tonight.
It’ll be tough, but they HAVE to at least split these next 4 games (A&M, @BAY, UT, KSU). That would put them at 6-7 in conference. They finish up with Nebraska, Baylor, and Colorado…they should be able to win at least two of those. That puts them at 8-8…I think that would be a LOCK for the Tournament considering how good the Big 12 is this season.
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GREAT JOB GUYS!!!
GUNZ WAY UP!!!
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Even if TTU goes 8-8, may not make the Dance. Probably need to win one in the B12 tourney.
Wild card … how much will it hurt that TTU wins games closely … yet has been absolutely CRUSHED in some games.
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we need to challenge the city of lubbock to pack the USA and support the raider as they defeat the aggies next saterday!!! everybody do your part!
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All positive comments,i guess nay-sayers are asleep. Heckuva win tonight,another win Saturday night will certainly boost our RPI.
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” It’s time to give the younger Knight his due. This team is – and will be – good for awhile”
Since when is below 500 in conference good?
He’s due $1.2 million this year for losing.
Wait til next year, though.
Especially for NMraider.
.
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i hope non-student fans show up for the game saturday night! we need to pack the USA for another huge game! you know the students are going to show up.
great game, stealing one on the road, especially giving OU its first home defeat this season! way to go raiders!!
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what a horrible story
by the way your first three words needed hyphens b/c they modify seconds. without it what the hell does two point five mean
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There’s no way fans shouldn’t show up for a Tech BBall game—team playing pretty well-great facility-many younger good players—what’s the excuse students aren’t rocking the place? Other college venues show student sections jumping up and down the whole game, making lots of noise, and just giving the opponents H-E-L-_. Being a TCU grad and TT Fan, I listen or watch every game on local radio in Fort Worth or Big12 TV……The team has been ahead of most every team but Kansas this year, and I don’t know about recruiting for next year, but I think the program is headed in the right direction.
Here in Fort Worth, and TCU only with an enrollment of near 7,000, there are only about 3,000 fans at games. Granted the team isn’t that fantastic, but Fort Worth is like 700,000 and 5 million people in the Metroplex…..so many venues for sports in the Fort Worth-Dallas area. Lubbock sure should turn out-even the non-Tech folks, because with alot less entertainment choices, I can’t fathom why with a student body of what 40,000+, why TT can’t fill the place and have it rocking.
Go Tech. From a TCU grad.
If Pat can continue recruiting like he did last year, I think he’ll set the team up for success in the next years. Now all that is needed is student and municipal support for the program.
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The population of the metroplex is 6.3 million. The population of the south plains is probably 350k.. Tech has 30,000 students….
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I give all the credit to the fantastic AD who hired PK, the lovely and talented Gerald Myers, of course!
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team_leach insists on the rightful and legal reinstatement of the “genius”. do not allow this win to deter the focus. after all it was against a team that is a bottom feeder in the big 12 too!!!
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Tech’s RPI before this win is 33. If they go 8-8 in conference play which would be 20-10 overall……they would be a lock. Protect home court from here on out.
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There is no doubt this was the biggest win in Knight’s short tenure. It allows the season to continue with meaning. I am utterly amazed.
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Wonder how the Teasipper fan Watchdog loves this and Esteban since Longhorns, the mighty, underachievers, just lost in Norman to OH-YEW. ??
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i still don’t understand how you all get excited
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Nice job, Pat and the boys. Keep it up.
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why not give the players their identity back by having names on the back of their jersey. That was a “thing” that bob initiated and it didnt work then. So what about it Pat, give these guys a name?
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Need to be careful how to word my posts. I thought this was a SPORTS blog so i asked a sports question yesterday and a bunch of hooligans got deep into the educational values they assumed texas tech possessed
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Great win. This team deserves better fan support. If the students would show up every game like they did for Missouri and the season ticket and PSL holders would come out for every game, it would make a huge difference in the energy level at the USA.
Right now the USA is too big for the current level of fan support but we are averaging over 9,000 per game which is a few more fans than the old coliseum would hold. There is plenty of room for the rest of you and I encourage all Red Raider fans to come out and support this team.
For you Team Leachers, y’all need to understand one thing. Before I get to that one thing know this: Most Red Raider fans support Coach Leach and getting the truth out as do you. Most Red Raider fans also support Coach Tuberville. And most Red Raider fans are Red Raider fans first and foremost.
The point Team Leach needs to understand is this: Coach Leach was fired for the same reason Coach Tuberville is no longer at Auburn and the same reason Coach Dykes is no longer at Tech and the same reason most coaches leave their positions – Big Money wanted them gone! It really is as simple as that. Hurting Tech by withholding support will not change that fact and will not prevent it from happening again. Removing Myers, Bailey and Hance will not change that fact and will not prevent it from happening again. Even if you found someway to disassociate the Big Money folks responsible, it would not prevent it from happening again. All Big Money has egos and they think they have a right to dictate what happens if you choose to accept their money. I would encourage Team Leach to continue to seek the truth but anything you do to hurt Tech is misguided and will not prevent this from happening again.
Good luck to my Texas Tech Red Raiders.
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Great game and as I have said all along these guys are fun to watch. They play as if they are having fun. I understand the team concept with no names on the back but I agree with Bernie and prefer to see the names especially on TV when I don’t have a program. Living 600+ miles away causes TV viewing.
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winning teams attract fans
Tradition is required to consistantly have a winning team
Mike Leach was in the process of building a tradition at Texas Tech
Mike Leach wasn’t wanted at Texas tech
need i say more
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To My Grandpa Said
You are BORING!!! Find another blog for your negative comments.
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Actually grandma,
I answered your question by explaining why I supported TTU athletics. Now I find that not only do you not have the cojones to respond to my comment on the relevant thread, you post more negative comments on another boards and call us hooligans? I think it would serve you best to have someone change you depends, hop on your motorized scooter, and get the hell off our boards!
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Mike Leach blew it. Period. And he’ll never be a D-I head coach again. Pride goes before a fall, regardless of who you are.
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How is a story about a big basketball win a forum for discussing Leach? “Messages not pertaining to the story are subject to removal.” Don, do your job. This is frustrating.
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South Dakota fan is still enjoying watching TT basketball games ( Full Court ESPN). I like Coach Knight’s aggressive
style of play. Go Raiders.
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i totally agree, if u wanna talk about leach, go on a football story. DON’T BRING HIM INTO A BASKETBALL STORY, im getting sick of hearing about it. anyways, good win! Don’t get cocky and stay focused on your goal.
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Great WIN for the Red Raider Basketball Team !! Let Tech start a tradition on being a “Basketball House” and fill the United Sprit Arena for each and every game regardless of the opponent. Treat every visiting team like UT or A&M. Blow them out of the water with the noise and fan support. Let the College Basketball Nation know that Tech is the hardest place to come and play because of the noise levels provided by the BEST and largest fan support. Every game played at Tech (all sports Men and Women’s) should be treated with as much respect as the football games — Come Early, Be LOUD, and Stay Late !!!
Get Your Guns Up !!
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Great job Raiders! Just regret I couldn’t get it on tv down here, but did listen on the internet!
And by the way, “Grandma,” go home ! You need a life!
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Well said, RaiderBacker. Congratulations, Red Raiders. Now fans, pack the USA on Saturday.
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Mike Singletary needs to cut down on his turnovers. Tech played well for 30 minutes in their previous 2 road games, but didn’t finish. This time they barely finished. Hopefully, this is a step in the right direction. This team can be good if they want to be. They still have 4 really tough games at home left on their schedule to show us what they’re really made of.
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in response to comments made of fan support:
the tech students show up for every home game! it is, however, the season ticket holders and those still holding a grudge about the leach stuff that arent showing up. if you were to look around the USA during a home game, those seats that are supposed to be filled with tickets (i.e. non-student), attendance is spotty…at best. it really is saddening to see a program on the verge of being more than it has in the past few years not getting the support it deserves. i agree, that winning brings fans, but those that start showing up when a team is getting hot and stops when they cool down are JUST BANDWAGON fans. we need real Tech supporters, and its sad to see a community so closely associated with the university like Lubbock that we can’t get 10,000 ticket buyers to pack the USA.
THE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE THERE! we don’t have much reason not to, we LOVE tech, and want to support our fellow students in their athletic events! we need those around Lubbock to come out and support these amazing athletes!
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i don’t suppose i’ll post anything else on these HOSTILE boards. The truth is not accepted and i struggles with anything less.
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redraider007 said: “in response to comments made of fan support: the tech students show up for every home game!”
Appreciate your comments. The students do show up but there is plenty of room for more. I wish y’all would show up every game like you did for Missouri. That was cool watching the ushers scramble to put students in the PSL and season ticket section because they were out of room in the student section. Come early, be loud, stay late, bring 10 friends. Go Raiders.
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mhmm
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great job guys but you got to stop playing so sloppy. y’all put together a great string of plays then its back to sloppy playing and turnovers!! y’all could very easily have 3 to 4 less loses with a little tighten up here and there.
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Nice win, Raiders! Keep it up and beat Atm on Saturday!
Wreck ‘em Tech
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“Averaging 9000 a game”!!! Laughed so hard I fell of my chair! The average is closer to 3-4K. Attendance is defined by persons actually in the buidling, not tickets sold, given away, lost, stolen, etc.
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this is two in a row the team has played hard…until the last couple to 5 minutes. I live in Oklahoma City, about 15 minutes from ou, and they are still calling Tech the sixth best team in the south, giving them no credit for the last two wins. just thought I would get that off my chest, it has been bothering me all day.
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The blind monkey found a banana!!! So did the girls against A&M!
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freddie said: “”Averaging 9000 a game”!!! Laughed so hard I fell of my chair! The average is closer to 3-4K. Attendance is defined by persons actually in the buidling, not tickets sold, given away, lost, stolen, etc.”
The 9,000 number came from actual attendance figures reported by Tech. Tech used to report tickets sold but not attendance. When Bob Knight became Coach he insisted they report actual attendance. As far as I know, they have continued to do so under Pat. If not then you are correct and the numbers are less. However, it may just look like less due to the arena being so large. The attendance reported for the recent OSU game was about 9,500. Seems about right based on my estimate while at the game. Also, I had an opportunity to meet one of the assistant coaches a couple of weeks ago. We briefly discussed attendance and he mentioned how large the USA was and how we would be selling out the old coliseum at current attendance figures. Not saying these numbers are right and that you are wrong but the evidence seems to support 9,000 far more easily than it does “3-4K”.
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