This game has so much implications for the Big 12 Championship hunt for both sides. Other notable finishes to the conference has current leaders, Kansas State winning by 40 to Oklahoma State. Iowa State lost a crucial road game against TCU.
With that loss, Iowa State might be out of the conference title picture and might need some chaos to get back in. Baylor won a close game in Waco against West Virginia. The Bears are in it, but the road ahead is tough with remaining road games against Kansas State and Kansas.
With the environment on Tech side and what is at stake, this might be the biggest game in a decade for the program. For Kansas, their streak is on the line and a loss would put the Jayhawks on the wrong side of a repeat.
First Half:
Jarrett Culver came out guns blazing out of the first half as he was able to get 7 quick points and Tech would take command early in the contest. Both teams were scoring left and right though as their were 31 point scored within the first 7 minutes and it was Tech that was ahead by 11 early.
Kansas continued to struggle as Texas Tech was finding their rhythm and their stride. Tech was 5-9 from 3 point range and Kansas hadn’t made a 3 yet. 4 early turnovers and some early fouls had up Tech up by 16, 28-12.
The unconscious shooting from Texas Tech put Kansas in such a bad position to try and build any kind of momentum as the lead got up to as high as 22 and the route was on early. Texas Tech has the best defense in the nation, which showed in the contest. But the crazy part has been they are ranked 7th in the Big 12 in 3 point shooting, but has made 12 or more 3’s in back to back contests. Tech made 9 3’s in just the first half alone. Texas Tech 45, Kansas 20.
Second Half:
Kansas would start connecting on their 3 pointers, but Jarrett Culver took over in the second half as he made play over play, keeping the Jayhawks well out of reach throughout. The Jayhawks didn’t shoot the ball that bad, but 10 turnovers and 15 fouls made up the difference.
The 2nd half, for the most part, was similar to the first half as the Tech crowd stayed in the contest and Tech continued its dominance defensively and from beyond the arc as well.
Texas Tech would finish Kansas off and this was a rare situation where Kansas got completely dominated in both facets of the game and KU couldn’t do anything about it. Texas Tech 91, Kansas 62.
Notable Players:
Kansas:
Dedric Lawson: 14 Points, 5 Rebounds
Charlie Moore: 9 Points (3-7 from 3).
Texas Tech:
Jarrett Culver: 26 Points (10-21), 4 assists.
Norense Odiase: 8 Points, 13 Rebounds.
Matt Mooney: 13 Points, 6 Assists.
