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Texas Tech basketball mauls Oklahoma State for road win: 3 takeaways
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- Texas Tech basketball mauls Oklahoma State for road win: 3 takeaways
STILLWATER, Okla. — The Texas Tech basketball team left little doubt in the result from the beginning and cruised to a 75-58 win over Oklahoma State on Tuesday night in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Red Raiders (21-9, 10-7) had a season high 13 steals and shut off every potential Cowboy comeback attempt. In the process of picking up the win, Texas Tech secured its first victory in Stillwater since 2019.
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Warren Washington (foot) missed his fifth game in the last six and KyeRon Lindsay did not make the trip with the team for the second game in a row.
Playing a true road game for the final time this season, the Red Raiders needed the win to stay in contention for a top-4 seed in next week's Big 12 Tournament.
Near-pristine first half for Texas Tech basketball
Aside from the eight turnovers — many of them on silly passes trying to force the ball into a tight window — it was a nearly perfect first half for the Red Raiders.
The team as a whole looks much more comfortable playing with Eemeli Yalaho as the 5-man as time progresses. That made the defense that much more in sync to force the Cowboys into a 6-for-28 first half from the floor.
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Offensively, Pop Isaacs and Darrion Williams carried the load, each sharing identical shooting marks: 5 of 6 overall, 2-for-3 from the field for 12 points apiece. Williams added seven rebounds, having five of them come before the first media timeout.
Toussaint with the active hands
Joe Toussaint came out looking to cause some havoc on the defensive end. The super senior point guard was all over the floor. With nine minutes left in regulation, he had four steals, which tied his season-high, and a plethora of deflections that prevented the Cowboys from getting any real rhythm offensively.
His active hands played a big role in Tech's defensive efforts in the first half and were a calming influence as the Red Raider slogged their way a bit through the first 12 minutes of the second half nursing a big lead.
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No ifs, ands or buts about it
Robert Jennings recovered after getting caught in a mass of bodies for an emphatic block at the rim on Texas Tech's first defensive possession of the game. On the other end, Isaacs hit a 3-pointer at the top of the key. It was pretty much over from there.
Oklahoma State didn't make its first field goal until the 12:29 mark of the first half as the Red Raiders asserted their authority from the jump. It was a win that lacked in drama until the end, just what a team needs against an inferior opponent on the road.
What's next?
The Red Raiders will close the regular season inside United Supermarkets Arena on Saturday by playing host to No. 11 Baylor. The Bears took the first meeting of the year 79-73 in Waco. The Big 12 Tournament pairings will be announced Saturday night and the all-conference awards will be announced Sunday at 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech basketball mauls Oklahoma State for road win
