Red-hot Baylor knocks off No. 7 Texas Tech
WACO — Terry Maston is emerging as a go-to guy for the surging Baylor Bears. Seventhranked Texas Tech hopes it didn’t just lose top scorer Keenan Evans for any length of time.
Maston scored 24 points to lead the Bears to a 59-57 victory over the Red Raiders, whose seven-game winning streak ended Saturday night after the Big 12 leaders lost Evans to what coach Chris Beard said was a toe injury in the first half. The school initially reported it as a foot injury.
Maston, who finished two points shy of his career high set in the previous game against Texas, hit the go-ahead shot with 1:26 remaining as Baylor (17-10, 7-7 Big 12) continued its push for the NCAA Tournament with a fifth consecutive win after a 2-7 start in the rugged conference.
The Bears moved into sole possession of fifth place, and Texas Tech (22-5, 10-4) dropped into a tie for first with No. 13 Kansas with four games remaining. The Jayhawks have won 13 consecutive Big 12 regular-season titles.
Freshman Zhaire Smith led the Red Raiders with 15 points but had just two points and attempted just two shots after halftime. Justin Gray had 13 points and eight rebounds before fouling out in the final minute.
Evans, the No. 2 scorer in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma freshman sensation Trae Young, limped off with 1:14 left in the first half and didn’t return.
Maston went scoreless in the first meeting with Tech — a 77-53 road loss in the senior’s first game back after missing six with a broken shooting hand. In the rematch, he had at least 10 field goals for the second consecutive game and scored at least 23 for the third time in five games.
Mark Vital had eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks — both in the final minute with Baylor leading by one.
KANSAS 77, WEST VIRGINIA 69
Udoka Azubuike scored 21 points, and Devonte’ Graham added 15 to help the 13th-ranked Jayhawks beat the No. 20 Mountaineers at Lawrence, Kan.
Both teams struggled to create much separation in the first half, neither establishing more than a six-point lead. After being tied at halftime, West Virginia (19-8, 8-6) took the lead with 17:22 left and held it until the game was tied again at 66 with about two minutes remaining. Kansas (20-7, 10-4) did not reclaim the lead until Svi Mykhailiuk hit a pair of free throws 30 seconds later.
Daxter Miles Jr. led the Mountaineers with 22 points.
TCU 90, OKLAHOMA ST. 70
Kouat Noi scored 19 points to lead six players in double figures as the Horned Frogs stormed back to beat the Cowboys at Fort Worth.
TCU (18-9, 6-8) rallied from an early 12-point deficit and won for just the fifth time in its last 13 games. Oklahoma State (15-12, 5-9) has lost six of eight.
Kenrich Williams scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half for the Horned Frogs. Kendall Smith led the Cowboys with 21 points.
KANSAS ST. 78, IOWA ST. 66
Dean Wade nearly pulled off a triple-double in the Wildcats’ victory over the Cyclones at Manhattan, Kan.
Wade shot 9-of-13 from the field for 22 points, grabbing eight rebounds and collected nine assists.
Kansas State (19-8, 8-6) exploded for 45 second-half points to break a 33-all halftime tie.