No. 23 Red Raiders knock off Knights

LUBBOCK, Texas – Darrion Williams and Warren Washington both recorded double-doubles for the second time this season in the same game and Kerwin Walton knocked down four 3-pointers to help lead No. 23 Texas Tech to a 66-59 win over UCF on Saturday at United Supermarkets Arena.

The Red Raiders (17-6, 6-4 Big 12) never trailed in their first-ever meeting against the Knights (13-9, 4-6 Big 12), improved to 12-1 at home after finishing the game on an 8-2 run, and now have a quick turnaround where they host No. 4 Kansas at 8 p.m. on Monday at the USA. Tech, which snapped a three-game losing streak, finished the game with a 44-37 rebounding advantage and shot 13-for-15 from the free-throw line – led by Joe Toussaint who was 6-for-6 at the line. UCF had cut the game to one with 2:07 remaining before a Williams jumper at the free-throw line pushed the lead to 60-57. In the final 41 seconds, Toussaint would make four free throws and Chance McMillian two more to close out the win.

“It wasn’t the most ‘pleasing to the eye’ game,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “Obviously, offensively there were times where I thought we did good things. We struggled, give them credit, UCF’s defense is one of the best in the country. But man, it’s fun to win a game with defense. We haven’t been doing that very well. To be able to not play well offensively and to out-rebound team that going into the game we knew would be difficult to keep them off the glass. The fact that we found a way to win this game, got to the free throw line – we made more free throws than they attempted.”

Tech will travel to Orlando, Florida for the regular-season rematch against UCF on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Addition Financial Arena.

Williams recorded his fifth double-double of the season and sixth of his career with team-highs of 13 points and 13 rebounds. Washington, who missed the game at No. 13 Baylor on Tuesday with illness, returned to provide 11 rebounds and 10 points for his second double-double of the season. Williams and Washington also had double-doubles in the non-conference win over Oral Roberts.

“I just wanted to come back and give my all for my guys,” Washington said.

“I’m just happy we won,” Williams said. “Tired of losing. That’s the main thing.”

Williams was 6-for-11 from the field and finished the game with four offensive rebounds. A sophomore coming off a career-high 17 points at Baylor, Williams led Tech in scoring for the first time this season and in rebounding for the seventh time. It was the 17th game in his career with double-figure rebounding and 21st in double-figure scoring. Washington, who now has 11 double-doubles in his career, had six offensive rebounds and was 5-for-8 from the field. Pop Isaacs was limited to seven points, snapping a streak of 13 straight games in double figures but he continued contributing in other ways like he has all season – leading the Red Raiders with six assists and also having five rebounds. Toussaint would finish the game with 11 points, three steals, two assists, and three rebounds. Walton led Tech with four 3-pointers, making all four in the first half and finishing the game with those 12 points. Walton is now 41-for-76 (53.9%) on 3-pointers for the season after going 4-for-5 on the night. McMillian added seven and Robert Jennings had six off the bench.

Texas Tech took a 31-25 lead into halftime with Walton going 4-for-5 on 3-pointers and having 12 points at the break. Washington had six points and six rebounds after scoring the first four points of the game for the Red Raiders, while Williams and Jennings had four points each. Isaacs was leading the team with five assists in a first half where he only had two points and Toussaint had three points, two assists, two steals. The Red Raiders were shooting 5-for-15 on 3-pointers, 12-for-35 overall from the field, but were only 2-for-4 at the free-throw line. Toussaint made the first 3-pointer of the game for a 7-4 lead before Walton made his first 3-pointer for a 10-6 lead. His fourth of the half gave Tech a 23-15 lead before Jennings made a layup for the first double-digit lead at 25-15.

Isaacs made his first 3-pointer of the game for a 41-34 lead five minutes into the second half before an inside shot from Washington gave him 10 points and Tech a 45-40 lead with 12 to play. Isaacs had seven points and pushed the lead to 49-45 before Williams and McMillian had a pair of layups to give Tech a 53-48 lead with 7:14 remaining. McMillian had started 0-for-5 on 3-pointers before hitting his first to give Tech a 56-48 lead and a Williams jumper at the free-throw line made it a 60-57 game with 1:52 to play.

Tech limited UCF to only 36.5 percent shooting and saw the Knights go 5-for-24 on 3-pointers and 8-for-12 at the free-throw line. The Red Raiders finished the game at its season average with only 10 turnovers and held UCF to only eight points off turnovers.

“We knew not turning the ball over that led to baskets for them would be a big deal in the game,” McCasland said. “Them having eight points off turnovers, they were problems, but it wasn’t the difference in the game. So really, an ugly one in regards to the way we played, but we found a way to do it and I thought our defense improved.”

Release provided by WES BLOOMQUIST Texas Tech Athletics