Tigers Fall At Texas Tech Thursday Night

LUBBOCK, Texas – John Walker III’s made free throw just 19 seconds into the first half gave the Texas Southern University men’s basketball team its only lead of the game as the host Texas Tech University Red Raiders blitzed their way out to a 78-54 victory on Thursday night.

Texas Tech (2-0) used a 10-0 run to take a decent lead early in the first half before Davon Barnes’ made jumper at the 16:19 mark of the first half ended a scoring drought for the Tigers (0-2).

Both teams would trade made baskets with Texas Tech building up a 15-7 lead with 13:44 to go in the first half before TSU would get consecutive baskets from Joirdan Karl Nicholas, Jordan Gilliam and Kolby Granger to pull within 15-13 with 11:20 remaining in the opening half.

The 2-point deficit would be as close as TSU would come the rest of the way as the Red Raiders were able to convert on far too many dunk and layup opportunities in the second half on their way to picking up the win.

One key that the Tigers can take away from the loss tonight is that they won the battle of the boards against the Red Raiders 41-37 including a 14-9 edge on offensive rebounds.

Walker III hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds for the Tigers who also saw Nicholas reel in nine.

Walker III narrowly missed out on a double-double as he recorded seven points.

Zytarious Morlte led all TSU scorers with 12 points to go along with four rebounds, three steals and block.

Barnes also added a double-digit scoring output when he made 5-of-12 field goals for 10 points.

Kevin Obanor and Jaylon Tyson led the Red Raiders with 13 points each.

TSU is back in action Sunday at 2 p.m. against Arizona State in its 2022 home opener inside the H&PE Arena.