The Texas Tech men’s basketball team continues its stretch of four consecutive midweek home contests versus No. 14 Iowa State Wednesday at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Tipoff is on-tap for 8 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by ESPNU in addition to being available on www.WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. Clay Matvick and Tim Welsh will serve as the announcing team.
The Texas Tech Sports Network will carry the game live on its flagship stations 97.3 FM, 100.7 FM and 950 AM in Lubbock. Brian Hanni and Chris Level will have the call. The radio broadcast also will be available on the radio affiliates of the Texas Tech Sports Network, online at www.TexasTech.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
The Red Raiders (13-9, 3-7 Big 12) were handed a 69-59 defeat at Texas on Saturday to open the second half of the Big 12 schedule. Texas Tech heads into Wednesday’s action tied for seventh place in the Big 12 standings and will look for their second consecutive home victory over a ranked Iowa State squad. The Red Raiders dialed up a 78-73 victory sparked by 11 three-pointers last season, eight coming courtesy of Toddrick Gotcher and Devaugntah Williams.
Last time out, Iowa State (17-6, 6-4 Big 12) grinded out a 64-59 win at Oklahoma State on Saturday and have won four of its last six decisions highlighted by home wins over then No. 1 Oklahoma (82-77) on Jan. 18 and then No. 4 Kansas (85-72) on Jan. 25. The Cyclones share fifth place with Baylor on the Big 12 leaderboard.
“I’m proud that we’re playing more as a team,” Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith said. “The assist-to turnover ratio has been better than it’s ever been since we’ve been here. We’re taking care of the ball better. We’re shooting the three better even though a few our better shooters have been up and down the last few games. There are a lot of things to be proud but a lot of things that we’re continuing to get better at. Obviously, we’re done in our rebounding without having Norense Odiase or even Matthew Temple for a majority of our last game. I’m proud of how we’re defending, and we’re scoring more points this year. Everything is up, and I’m really proud of the team.”
Wednesday’s contest is the 29th all-time meeting between the two programs. Iowa State holds a 16-12 edge on the strength of winning seven of the last nine outings. Earlier this season, the Cyclones collected a 76-69 win on Jan. 6 behind a career-high 22 points from Matt Thomas.
Fans can purchase tickets online at www.TexasTech.com for as low as $8 by using the promo code CAKERY in the top right-hand corner and click Go. Tickets also are available for purchase on gameday starting 90 minutes prior to tipoff at the United Supermarkets Arena Ticket Office.
About Texas Tech
The Red Raiders begin a season-long stretch of three straight games against ranked opponents. Tech has already faced ranked opponents in back-to-back games three times in Big 12 play and will look to surpass their overall and Big 12 win totals from a season ago.
Keenan Evans has handled the point guard duties and started all 22 games after he earned the starting nod in three games as a freshman last season. He has upped his scoring average to 10.7 points per game over his last three games and reached double figures twice. Evans pumped in a season-high tying 14 points aided by a 7-for-10 effort from the foul line at Texas.
“It’s important that Keenan keep attacking the basket, and that we keep attacking the basket as a team,” Smith said. “That’s been one of our points of emphasis this year was to get to people to the free throw line and force people to foul us and then us not foul as much. We’ve done a better job there. Keenan really played really well against one of the best back court combinations in the league in Javon Felix and Isaiah Taylor of Texas. I was impressed with his ability to get to the rim, get fouled and make his free throws.”
Aaron Ross has ripped off a team-leading 10.9 points per game in Big 12 action. He has provided double digits in seven of his last eight games and will go for four straight games in double figures for the second time in his career during Wednesday’s game.
Justin Gray is right behind Ross with 10.7 points per game during conference play. He has worked his way into the starting lineup in the last two games and will look to return to double figures for the first time since a 20-point and 7-rebound outburst at then No. 1 Oklahoma on Jan. 26.
Zach Smith has amassed 9.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He continues to be ranked inside the Big 12 Top 6 in rebounds and blocks per game. The sophomore forward has recorded a block in 23 of his last 29 games and his 78 blocks are 11th on Tech’s all-time list.
Matthew Temple has joined Smith on the front line and started Tech’s last five games in place of an injured Norense Odiase. He has secured 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game over his last six appearances but left the Texas game midway through the first half due to injury.
Texas Tech’s top two scorers are Devaugntah Williams and Toddrick Gotcher who have racked up 11.6 and 10.8 points per game, respectively. The senior guard tandem have scorched the nets for 66 of the team’s 117 three-pointers. Gotcher has buried 1.8 triples per game on a 39.2 percent shooting clip which are in the Big 12 Top 10.
Jordan Jackson, Devon Thomas and C.J. Williamson have seen playing as part of Tech’s bench rotation.
Thomas has picked up five points on eight occasions and distributed multiple assists in 11 of 22 games whereas Williamson has played 10-plus minutes in four of his last six games.
Texas Tech will be without Odiase for the sixth consecutive game. He suffered a foot injury during the first half of the TCU game. Odiase tallied 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and reached 10-plus points in eight of his last 13 games before the injury.
(Press Release Provided by Texas Tech Athletics Department)