The Red Raiders and head coach Chis Beard picked up a signature win against a top-5 team with a 84-78 upset of #4 Baylor, and they kept their NCAA tournament hopes alive for now.
Texas Tech (17-9, 5-8 Big 12) started the game on an 11-0 run led by junior point guard Keenan Evans who had 10 points in the first half. However, just before the break Baylor point guard Manu Lecomte would drain a three-point shot to give the Bears a 36-32 lead at the half.
In the second half the Red Raiders would go on a 19-4 run to regain the lead and bury the Bears in Lubbock, 84-78.
Tech was led in scoring by Evans who finished with a game-high 23 points on 5-for-10 shooting and 3 assists, and he was assisted by junior guard Niem Stevenson who finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds and five assists. Tech junior guard Justin Gray also chipped in a double-double performance with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
To quote the movie Jerry McGuire the Red Raiders tournament chance are “hanging by a very thin thread” as they travel to No. 9 West Virginia on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
