Half-closing surge lifts Texas Tech to rout of Bethune-Cookman

Field Level Media|published: Tue 5th November, 22:32 2024

NCAA Basketball: Big 12 Basketball Media Day

Oct 23, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Grant McCasland talks to media during the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Darrion Williams posted 17 points, six rebounds and six assists while Kerwin Walton and scored 21 points as Texas Tech turned a late-first-half rally into a 94-61 season-opening win over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday in Lubbock, Texas.

Williams shot 7-for-12 from the floor while pacing the Red Raiders in assists. Walton drilled seven 3-pointers on 12 attempts.

Texas Tech's JT Toppin produced 19 points and eight rebounds, and Chance McMillian hit four treys and logged 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Red Raiders led by as many as 43 points and shot 57.1 percent in the second half after doing its damage over the final five minutes before the intermission.

Reggie Ward Jr., whose 15 points and seven rebounds led the Wildcats, converted a layup with 4:50 to go in the first half, slicing Texas Tech's lead to 33-28.

The Wildcats were feisty from the opening tip, trailing 12-10 at the first media timeout and later responding to a Red Raiders run that yielded a 22-14 advantage with consecutive 3-pointers from Jesus Carralero Martin and Trey Thomas to close to within 24-22.

However, after Ward pulled Bethune-Cookman to within five points, the Red Raiders delivered the knockout blow.

Devan Cambridge, Williams and McMillian drilled successive 3-pointers that extended the lead to 42-28 and forced a Wildcats timeout. However, Texas Tech did not relent, and shortly after Daniel Rouzan missed a pair of free throws for Bethune-Cookman, Walton sank a 3-pointer before Williams turned an offensive rebound from Walton into a layup and a 48-28 lead.

Texas Tech capped its 17-0 blitz to close the half with a steal by Toppin that resulted in a Federiko Federiko dunk. The Red Raiders' 50-28 halftime lead was a result of shooting 9 of 15 from behind the arc while not allowing the Wildcats an offensive rebound.

Toppin, Walton and McMillian combined for 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting before the break. Williams scored all 17 of his points in the first half.

--Field Level Media