Tech wins at Kansas on 18th try
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Texas Tech coach Chris Beard didn’t expect his team to walk out of Allen Fieldhouse with a victory Tuesday night, especially considering the Red Raiders had never done so in school history.
“What I did expect,” Beard said, “was to play hard and play well.”
Turns out that was a winning formula after all.
Keenan Evans scored 15 points, Norense Odiase and Justin Gray had 12 apiece, and the No. 18 Red Raiders never trailed in beating the No. 10 Jayhawks 85-73 for their first win at the Phog in 18 tries.
“It’s special because of how much respect we have for this program,” Beard said. “This is sacred ground in college basketball, so to come in and win means a lot to our program.”
The Red Raiders (13-1, 2-0 Big 12) built a 16-point lead midway through the first half, then found an answer every time the 3-pointdependent Jayhawks (11-3, 1-1) tried to mount a second-half charge.
Zach Smith had 11 points, and Jarrett Culver contributed 10 for Tech, which has won its first two Big 12 games for the first time in a decade.
Devonte Graham led the Jayhawks with 27 points, but a lot of that came at the foul line, where he was 13-of-13. The senior guard struggled from the field, just like the rest of his team — they were 6 of 26 from beyond the arc and missed all 12 of their 3-point attempts in the second half.
The loss snapped the Jayhawks’ 16-game win streak against Tech and gave coach Bill Self ’s team two losses in Allen Fieldhouse in the same season for the first time since 2006-07.
TCU 81, BAYLOR 78
Vladimir Brodziansky had 18 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime, as the No. 16 Horned Frogs bounced back from their first loss with a victory over the host Bears.
TCU (13-1, 1-1 Big 12), after blowing a 12-point lead in the second half, went ahead to stay on Brodziansky’s 3 from the top of the key that made it 75-74 with 1:29 left in overtime. The Horned Frogs stretched the lead on an inside shot by Kouat Noi, who punctuated the win with a breakaway slam on an inbounds pass from Kenrich Williams.
Jo Lual-Acuil had 28 points and 11 rebounds for Baylor (10-4, 0-2), which had a 14-0 run in the second half after giving up an 11-0 spurt before the break. Terry Maston had 20 points and nine rebounds.
All five TCU starters scored in double figures. Jaylen Fisher had 15 points, JD Miller had 13, Williams 12 and Desmond Bane 10.
Baylor’s Jake Lindsey drove for a layup with 17 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 64. TCU had plenty of time, but Bane’s open 3-pointer from the wing went off the rim as time ran out.
XAVIER 86, BUTLER 79
At Cincinnati, J.P. Macura scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half to get the No. 5 Musketeers rolling, and Trevon Bluiett had 21 points in their 10th in a row.
MISSISSIPPI ST. 78, ARKANSAS 75
Nick Weatherspoon scored 22 points, his brother Quinndary Weatherspoon added another 22, and the host Bulldogs knocked off the No. 22 Razorbacks.
AUBURN 94, TENNESSEE 84
Bryce Brown and Jared Harper each scored 18 points as the visiting Tigers erased an early 14-point deficit to beat the No. 23 Volunteers for their 11th straight victory.
IRISH LOSE COLSON
Notre Dame senior forward Bonzie Colson will undergo surgery on Thursday for a left foot fracture suffered in practice this week.
Colson is expected to miss eight weeks.
The 6-6 Colson, a preseason AllAmerica selection, is averaging 21.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.
Women HOUSTON 73, WICHITA ST. 55
Jasmyne Harris scored 26 points as the Cougars surpassed last season’s victory total by winning at Hofheinz Pavilion.
UH (13-3, 2-0 American Athletic) continued its turnaround under fourth-year coach Ronald Hughey after going 12-19 last season.