AUSTIN (KXAN) — This is why there are no breaks in the Big 12 Conference.
Texas Tech came into Moody Center and topped No. 20 Texas 78-67 for their fifth win in Austin in its last 28 trips led by Pop Isaacs’ 21 points.
The Red Raiders led 37-33 at halftime, and every time the Longhorns started to make a move at the lead, Texas Tech always had an answer. The Red Raiders had three separate spurts of 5-0 scoring in the second half to gradually work away from the Longhorns.
“We’ve got to play with better effort on defense,” Longhorns guard Max Abmas said. “The coaches put together a good game plan, we just have to play better defense.”
Texas Tech shot 53% from the field, connecting on 28 of 53 shots including 7 of 15 from 3-point range. Joe Toussaint had 15 points for the Red Raiders, 13 in the first half, and 7-footer Warren Washington was perfect from the field at 5-for-5 to finish with 15 points. Chance McMillian scored 11 points off the bench for Texas Tech, who outscored the Texas bench 20-11.
Abmas, who surpassed Duke legend JJ Redick in career 3-pointers made during the game, hit a longball to tie the game at 42-42 with 17:26 left, but Texas Tech went on a 7-2 flurry the next four minutes and never relinquished the lead after that.
Isaacs was key down the stretch for the Red Raiders, scoring 13 of his points in the second half and six in the final 2:51.
The Red Raiders shot 15 of 21 from the foul line and made six free throws in the final 7:00 to help close it out. Texas was 9 of 14 from the foul line.
For Texas, Tyrese Hunter led the way with 20 points on 8 of 16 shooting. Abmas finished with 18, 13 of which came in the second half, on 6 of 12 shooting including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.
This story will be updated with more details and quotes later. Check back for more
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