Texas Tech holds off Mississippi State 74-72 in Puerto Rico

Texas Tech outlasted the Bulldogs, 74-72, on Friday in the consolation bracket at the Puerto Rico Tip-off. Kuzma, who averaged 3.3 points last season, is averaging 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in an expanded role.ABOUT TEXAS TECH (1-0): Williams averaged 10.5 points and drained 39.1 percent of his 3-pointers last season to lead the Red Raiders, who bring back seven of their top eight scorers. Utah outrebounded Texas Tech 45-38 and had a 34-24 advantage in points in the paint. Even with this three-pointer, Utah never really found its footing and was down at the half, 46-32.

Malik Newman led the way for Mississippi State with 17 points. In order to do that, however, Utah must avoid bad losses to teams from other Power 5 conferences, including their Thursday night matchup in Puerto Rico with the Texas Tech Red Raiders at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Smith has won all four of his previous meetings with Utah, all coming at Kentucky, highlighted by the 1998 NCAA Championship Game where the Wildcats overcame a 10-point halftime deficit. He drained 4-of-6 from the floor and knocked down all four of his free throw attempts.

Texas Tech: Toddrick Gotcher had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists….

Ware, who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, couldn’t finish the final-sequence stickback through contact on a play that had the Bulldogs bench crying out for a foul. Zach Smith led Texas Tech in rebounding with 8 rebounds. “It’ll be interesting to see a few of the familiar faces”.

Tech would draw within six of the Utes with 2:49 left on a Keenan Evans jumper to make it 66-60, but the cold three-point shooting would doom the Red Raiders.

After Jordan Loveridge and Brandon Taylor put the Utes up early (22-12), Bonam extended the lead to 12 points with a layup. Richard Pitino, I’ve known him sense he was six years old. Guys like Charles Buggs and (Joey) King, kids we recruited, we know a lot of people up there. You coach so many games, you’ve got to prepare your team and make sure they come ready to play.

Texas Tech gave the Utes a challenge the entire night, and every time the Utes went on a run, the Red Raiders answered right back. Brian Hanni and Chris Level will serve as the broadcasting team. That also means that the game will be available for live streaming on WatchESPN.

Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men’s basketball program.