Box Score
LUBBOCK, Texas – On a night where No. 12 Texas Tech unveiled its Final Four banner from last season it was a new cast of characters that helped lead the Red Raiders to a 85-60 win over Eastern Illinois on Tuesday night.
TTU jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first half as the Red Raiders took advantage of three first half runs to build a 46-31 lead at the half.
Following the TTU opening run, EIU would close the gap to 20-17 as
Mack Smith knocked down a 3-pointer with 11:34 to play in the half. Smith would finish with two 3-pointers and eight points as he extended his NCAA leading streak of consecutive games with a made 3-pointer to 50.
Texas Tech responded with some outside baskets of its own as freshman Jahmi'us Ramsey had a 3-pointer to spark a 10-3 run by TTU. Ramsey had 13 first-half points as he was one of four TTU players in double figures with 19 points.
TTU added a late 10-0 run in the first half as they shot 55 percent from the floor in the opening half and 56 percent for the game. The Red Raiders were 8-of-14 from 3-point range on the evening.
In the second half defense was the key for TTU as they held EIU around 30 percent shooting most of the half. The Panthers would get some late baskets by
George Dixon and
Shareef Smith to finish the game shooting 40 percent from the floor.
Dixon had a memorable debut for EIU as he posted a double-double with 13Â points and ten rebounds.Â
Jordan Skipper-Brown had ten points while
Deang Deang would add nine points of the bench for the Panthers.
TJ Holyfield had 15 points for TTU with Davide Moretti adding 13 and Terrence Shannon 11.