Texas Tech Blows Past WVU Basketball in 2nd Half

To say Saturday’s contest between WVU basketball and Texas Tech began as a rock fight would be an understatement. The Big 12 rivals started a combined 12-40 from the floor and 2-17 from three.

It was the No. 9 Red Raiders (21-6, 12-4 Big 12) who eventually found their shooting stroke as they won, 73-51, over the Mountaineers (16-11, 7-9).

West Virginia’s defense set the pace early on as a 7-0 run gave the Mountaineers an early 10-5 lead. Texas Tech only had nine points after 10 minutes of play.

The Red Raiders struggled to score at all levels, but especially from range, missing top three-point shooter Chance McMillian with an injury. TTU started 1-9 from deep.

The Mountaineers failed to capitalize on their early momentum, however, as their own offense struggled to consistently make shots, especially from three where they started 1-8.

WVU’s largest lead in the first half was nine points when the Mountaineers were able to make a couple of three-pointers by Sencire Harris and Amani Hansberry.

It was just a matter of time before the Big 12’s highest-scoring offense got going, however, and West Virginia’s modest lead was not enough to weather the coming storm.

After starting the game shooting 4-21 from the floor, Texas Tech closed the first half shooting 7-11. That led to a 15-3 run to end the first half with a 30-27 lead at the break. TTU scored the final 10 points before the break as West Virginia missed its final six shots, four from three.

The largest indictment of WVU’s first-half offense was the fact that star point guard Javon Small scored just a single point while missing all four of his shots.

The first four minutes of the second half were all Texas Tech, as the Red Raiders used an 8-0 run to lead 38-29 with 16:45 to play. TTU’s lead reached double digits at 37-36 as the Red Raiders made seven of their first eight shots after the break.

Texas Tech’s lead reached 19 on a three-pointer by Christian Anderson, who more than made up for McMillian’s absence. The Red Raiders’ lead never dipped below 16 for the rest of the game.

After their disastrous start, the Red Raiders shot 62.5% (15-24) in the second half. WVU shot 2-11 from deep in the second half, missing its first eight chances. TTU was 7-11 on threes after the break.

Hansberry led WVU in scoring for the second game in a row, finishing with 14 and 11 rebounds. Small ended with 10 points but only shot 3-14. 

JT Toppin led the Red Raiders with 22 points and eight rebounds. Anderson was next with a career-high 21 points and five three-pointers. TTU also got 10 points from Elijah Hawkins and 10 from Kevin Overton.

West Virginia returns home to host TCU Tuesday looking to avenge a loss earlier this season. Action in the Coliseum will tip off at 9 p.m.