RECAP: Tech takes robust loss at No. 3 Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kansas – Texas Tech battled to the tip however noticed No. 3 Kansas pull out a 67-63 win and clinch not less than a share of the Large 12 regular-season championship on Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Crimson Raiders (16-14, 5-12 Large 12) dropped their second straight sport within the closing minute, this one in a contest the place it was 61-60 with 30 seconds to play earlier than Kevin McCullar got here up with a free ball below the basket for KU and made a shot to push their result in three. After a missed layup by Pop Isaacs, Dajaun Harris would make a layup for a 65-60 lead earlier than a De’Vion Harmon 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining gave Tech a momentary reprieve till Gradey Dick sealed the win with two free throws. Kansas improved to 13-4 in convention play with the win that provides them not less than a share of the regular-season title.

“I believed each groups had struggles on the offensive finish, however I believed they made some massive performs down the stretch,” Texas Tech coach Mark Adams stated. “Particularly within the final couple of minutes. It was the distinction within the sport and that is what Kansas does – they’re home-court benefit. They know win in late video games they usually did it once more towards us. I used to be happy with our guys. I believed we fought arduous, and I believed we acquired higher tonight. We’ll simply maintain shifting ahead.”

Fardaws Aimaq led Tech with 18 rebounds and 13 factors for his third double-double of the season and forty third in his profession, whereas De’Vion Harmon scored 15 factors and Kevin Obanor had 14. Jaylon Tyson had 13 rebounds and 6 factors within the loss, whereas Pop Isaacs had 11 factors. The Crimson Raiders completed the sport 25-for-61 from the sector however was solely 3-for-16 within the sport the place they owned a 40-32 scoring benefit within the paint and 42-33 rebounding margin. Aimaq had seven offensive rebounds for Tech which had 10 offensive boards. KU had 4 however nonetheless had an 8-6 benefit on second-chance factors.

Tech completed the sport 10-for-14 on the free-throw line, together with Isaacs going 6-for-6. Following McCullar’s shot to make it a three-point sport, Isaacs would drive to the basket for a layup however had his shot blocked and McCullar seize the rebound with 15 seconds to play. KU pushed the ball, discovering Harris open below the basket for a simple shot.

“We have been deciding on going for the three or simply attempting to attain and get one thing fast, and we went with that,” Adams stated. “We did not get the decision, but it surely was precisely what we wished to occur. We simply anticipated Pop to get to the free throw line.”

Kansas completed the sport 18-for-22 on the free-throw line, overcoming the rebounding drawback and likewise an evening the place it was solely 5-for-23 on 3-pointers. Jalen Wilson completed the sport with 21 factors to guide the Jayhawks, whereas Harris had 16 factors and 5 rebounds. McCullar, who performed three seasons at Tech earlier than transferring to KU this yr, had 14 factors and 9 rebounds.

Aimaq’s 18 rebounds matched a Texas Tech program document in Large 12 video games with Devonne Giles having 18 towards Colorado in 2004 and Cliff Owens grabbing 18 at Texas in 1998. His 18 rebounds have been a season excessive however nonetheless seven shy of his profession excessive whereas taking part in at Utah Valley. Jim Reed holds the Tech program document with 27 rebounds in a pair of video games throughout the 1956 season. Aimaq was 6-for-14 from the sector for his 13 factors in 33 minutes of play. Obanor completed the night time 6-for-12 from the sector whereas Harmon was 6-for-11.

KU took a 30-21 lead into halftime with Tech lacking its closing 5 pictures of the half. Harmon led the Crimson Raiders with seven factors on 3-for-4 taking pictures whereas Aimaq had 11 rebounds, together with 4 on the offensive finish. Obanor had six factors, whereas Isaacs, Aimaq, Tyson and Fisher every had two. Tech was simply 10-for-32 from the sector and 1-for-11 on 3-pointers with Harmon making the three. The group had seven turnovers whereas KU had solely two. McCullar led KU with 10 factors and 5 rebounds within the half whereas Wilson had 9 factors and Harris 5. KU was 11-for-30 from the sector and 4-for-17 on 3-pointers by 20 minutes within the sport. Tech had a 23-18 rebounding benefit and a have been main 23-18 on factors within the paint.

Kansas is now 22-1 all-time towards Tech at Allen Fieldhouse and is 3-10 towards ranked opponents this season. The Crimson Raiders have been coming off an 83-82 loss to No. 24 TCU final Saturday after a four-game profitable streak.

Texas Tech concludes its common season towards Oklahoma State at 5 p.m. on Saturday on the United Supermarkets Enviornment. The Cowboys (16-14, 7-10 Large 12) are coming off a 74-68 loss to Baylor on Monday however will probably be in search of a season sweep of Tech after taking a 71-68 win again on February 8 in Stillwater. The 2023 Phillips 66 Large 12 Males’s Basketball Championship seeding and bracket will probably be decided on Saturday night time following outcomes from all through the convention. The event is from March 8-11 on the T-Cell Middle in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.

GAME TRACKER & NOTES

• KU received the tip and would begin with a McCullar missed 3-pointer… Tech scored on its opening possession with a hook shot from Aimaq within the paint
• KU took a 4-2 lead into the primary media timeout with Tech having 4 turnovers 5 minutes into the sport… KU had not dedicated one however had began the sport simply 2-for-8 from the sector and 0-for-4 on 3-pointers… Tech was 1-for-5 from the sector
• Harmon hit Tech’s first 3-pointer of the sport (14:43) for a 5-4 lead earlier than he drove in for a layup and a 7-4 lead… KU would take a 9-7 lead into the second media timeout with a run that was prolonged by a Yesufu 3-pointer to make KU 1-for-7 on 3s
• Isaacs would cease a 7-0 run by KU with a runner within the lane to make it 11-9 (10:25)… It was Isaacs’ first basket however was adopted by a Harris 3-pointer to push KU’s result in 14-9 (9:55)… KU was 2-for-8 on 3-pointers, Tech was 1-for-4 on 3s and the groups have been tied 8-8 in paint scoring 12 minutes into the sport
• Obanor scored his first factors of the sport off a Dick turnover that became a fastbreak layup to make it 19-13 earlier than a Fisher layup introduced it to 19-15 (6:11)
• Tyson made his first shot of the sport with a layup off an help from Aimaq to chop KU’s result in 25-21 (2:44)… Tyson, who went 0-for-6 to begin the sport, was the sixth Crimson Raider to attain within the sport… Tech was taking pictures 10-for-28 from the sector and was 1-for-8 on 3-pointers
• Obanor scored Tech’s first basket of the second half to chop KU’s result in 30-24 and was adopted by Aimaq throwing down a dunk on his fifth offensive rebound of the sport to chop it to 4
• An Obanor dunk was adopted by an Aimaq putback to chop KU’s result in 39-36 (15:38)… Obanor had 12 factors whereas Aimaq had 14 rebounds and 7 factors at that time
• Isaacs drilled a 3-pointer (14:01) to make it 43-39… It was his first 3-pointer of the sport and made Tech 2-for-13 from past the arc
• Harmon hit a jumper to chop KU’s result in 45-43 (11:33) earlier than an Obanor dunk introduced it to 47-45 (10:28)… Obanor had 14 factors and Harmon 11 after the hampers that made it a two-point sport halfway by the second half
• Tech trailed 51-49 going into the under-8 media timeout earlier than a pair of free throws from Wilson popping out of the break pushed it again to 4… KU was 12-for-14 on the line… Tech was 5-for-7
• KU took a 58-53 lead right into a timeout with 3:57 remaining within the sport earlier than a pair of Isaacs free throws made it 58-55… Isaacs had 11 factors after the free throws
• Aimaq had 17 rebounds and 11 factors after one other offensive rebound and putback to make it 61-57 with 2:16 to play… He adopted with a hook shot to chop it to 61-59 with 2:04
• McCullar gave KU a 63-60 lead after getting on a free ball and making an inside shot with 30 seconds to play… Tech took a timeout at midcourt with 22 seconds on the shot clock and 24.8 on the sport clock
• Harmon hit a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds to play to make it a 65-63 sport after a layup by Harris for KU