Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: Not the best shooting night, but it’s tough not to pick the guy who forced the game-winner. Joe Toussaint was just 4 of 13 on the night, but he scored and led with 12 points, 1 board, 2 assists, 1 turnover and a steal. The drive and being able to get the shot up was typical Toussaint. And he wasn’t done because his defense on Kansas State’s last possession was critical to sealing that win.
The Motion:
- Toughest team won? Yeah, maybe so. Texas Tech couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn, only 20% or 5 of 25 from deep, but this team made free throws, 83%, made plays, 9 steals, shot-clock violations, going for loose balls, tying people up and forced 18 Kansas State turnovers on the day.
- The end of the first half, the last 7 minutes was brutal. K-State made 5 of their 3-point shots in those last 7 minutes, which means that K-State (without a miss until the last few seconds) then went 5 of 18 the rest of the way. So Texas Tech was able to withstand that burst and then proceeded to make adjustments in the second half and out-score K-State 38 to 26 and secure that win. K-State would shoot just 37% in the second half, compared to 52%, and make just 2 of 10 from deep. And make no mistake, coming out of into the 2nd half, Texas Tech put the ball in the hands of Warren Washington to break the scoring drought to start the second half.
- Oh, and it is clear that the staff decided that the second half to be about free throws where Texas Tech went to the line 11 times and made 10 (compared to 7 in the first) and the emphasis was on rebounding. Texas Tech had just 8 boards in the first half, compare that to the 2nd where the Red Raiders had 23 including 10 offensive boards. Compare that to K-State? The Wildcats had 21 rebounds in the first half, but the second? 13 overall.
- Warren Washington was terrific. 11 points on the night, 8 boards, a technical foul he didn’t deserve, an assist, a steal and 2 turnovers on the night. Those two buckets to start the second half and his battling on the boards were critical.
- Darrion Williams was huge, the 3-point make with about 4 minutes left was the start and the offensive board for the and-1 to bring Texas Tech within 2 was what drove Texas Tech to the win for the rest of the way. Williams would end the day with 10 points and 6 boards to end the day.
- Pop Isaacs wasn’t feeling it and he’s emotional without a doubt and I think that he wears his frustration physically I think. Isaacs was just 2 of 11 and 1 of 7 from deep, but he did make all 5 free throws to get him to 10 points. He’s been on a heater for a few games, he’ll need to be back for the next 4 games which will prove to be incredibly tough.
- Some stats. Texas Tech had 14 2nd chance points to just 5 for K-State. Texas Tech’s free throws were warranted as they had 28 points in the paint to just 18 for Kansas State. Texas Tech had 9 steals to just 3 for the Wildcats and I’ve already mentioned the 18 turnovers to just 9 for the Red Raiders.
- Advanced stats say that Williams was a +7.3 in BPM and the player of the game with Washington at +2.7, McMillian at +2.4, and Walton at a +2.7.
- Head coach Grant McCasland: “We turned them over 18 times which told me our activity was there. They have really good individual offensive players, but the story to me was on the glass and our ability to get to the free-throw line. We needed to create offense in different ways and we did it with offensive rebounds and free throws. Joe didn’t shoot it very good and forced some things, but at the end, he showed a lot of patience. This team just learns. We learn as we play. Their heart is to get better. We weren’t discouraged. We let missed shots affect us early in the year, but we are not doing that right now. We’re just like, ‘we are going to win the game.’ Let’s just find a way.”
- Up next? Texas Tech basketball travels to Houston to take on the Cougars at the Fertitta Center on Wednesday, January 17th at 8:00 p.m. with the game on ESPNU.
Highlights
We’ve told you we have some athletes on this campus 😱#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/e0qyNFYgKu
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) January 13, 2024