Texas Tech basketball: Keenan Evans leads Red Raiders to program defining win over WVU
After losing earlier in the week to Oklahoma, the Red Raiders wanted to remain near the top of the standings with a win over West Virginia. They pulled off the victory, in a statement game.
It’s not very often that a game between two top-10 teams would have so many implications on one side.
However, that was the case for Texas Tech 15-2 (4-1), who had a chance to be in a tie for first place in the Big 12 with a home win over No. 2 ranked West Virginia 15-2 (4-1).
This was a battle between two very similar teams, with both having a star senior point guard, as well as both being great on the defensive end.
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The Mountaineers were riding the nation’s longest winning streak at 15 games, and receiving the highest AP ranking for their program in 60 years. They received an even bigger boost, with Esa Ahmad, who was suspended for violating school policy, able to play in this game. He ended up scoring 18 points off the bench.
Combine that with Jevon Carter going off for 28 points, and West Virginia as a team making 11 three-pointers, more likely than not the team is going to win the game.
But the Red Raiders had other plans, led by Keenan Evans scoring 20 points of his own, doing it on an efficient 6/10 shooting (8/9 FT). However, the hero for Texas Tech has to be 6’6 reserve Brandone Francis, who come into the game averaging less than 5 ppg on the season. He scored a career-high 17 points, shooting 5/6 from the field and making 3/4 from long distance.
Texas Tech only made four three-pointers as a team but made up for it by going 24/28 from the charity stripe, while only committing 13 turnovers.
Based on the results this Saturday afternoon, there’s a four-way tie for on top of the Big 12 standings, with both of these teams along with Oklahoma and, of course, Kansas.
But, for the Red Raiders, this was a long time coming, as the team has been much closer to the bottom than the top in the conference ever since Bob Knight left the team. There have been some issues from the administration’s standpoint as well, with three coaches leading this team in the past three years.
This year is different; led by new head coach Chris Beard, this team has an identity, as well as a solid mixture of upperclassmen and newcomers to make this a viable team both now and in the future.
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What makes this even more exciting is that Zach Smith, the senior forward for Texas Tech still has more to give, as he’s still dealing with a nagging ankle injury. Kansas is still the defending champ, West Virginia has the defense, and Oklahoma has the star. But don’t sleep on this Red Raiders squad, who might be the most balanced team of the group.