Texas Tech won the second of six road games (18-5, 7-3 Big 12), The Red Raiders won three straight games and five of their six previous ones, with Kansas’s loss in double overtime. Davion Warren scored 11 points, while Kevin McCullar had 10.
Jalen Bridges scored 16 and Sean McNeil added 15. West Virginia, 13-9, 2-7) lost seven consecutive games, tied for the worst record under Bob Huggins.
Taz Sherman of West Virginia, the second-leading scorer in the Big 12, is out with a concussion. He was hurt in the jaw on Monday in a Baylor loss.
Bridges compensated Sherman’s absence with an early double-digit performance, but was scoreless at halftime.
West Virginia could not hold on to a six point halftime lead and made only four field goals in halftime.
After an unfortunate fall after a dunk, Shannon had to be helped from the court, but the Red Raiders took control when the second-leading scorer returned. Texas Tech took its first lead in the second half by allowing Shannon to score a layup, free throw and jumper. They then extended their lead to 48-41 at 8:01.
Gabe Osabuohien made five free shots in less than a minute to bring West Virginia within 53-50. Despite their shooting woes the Mountaineers had a chance to tie it with 3:40 remaining but couldn’t convert.
Williams made two free throws at 1:46 and Daniel Batcho hit a fast break at 1:27 to seal the win.
BIG PICTURE
Texas Tech: Texas Tech’s Red Raiders were trailing at halftime for the fourth consecutive season. They won for the second consecutive time after coming back from a halftime loss.
West Virginia: There is a lot of work for the Mountaineers to complete in order to qualify for an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament. Every game Sherman isn’t playing makes it more difficult. Due to COVID-19 protocols, Sherman was unable to play in the January Texas loss and required several games to get to his full strength.
NEXT
Texas Tech: At Oklahoma on Wednesday.
West Virginia: No. 20 Iowa State on Tuesday will be the Mountaineers third consecutive ranked opponent.
