Texas Tech takes lessons from OT loss, faces Omaha

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th December, 24:17 2023

Nov 24, 2023; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Pop Isaacs (2) drives to the basket as Michigan Wolverines forward Youssef Khayat (24) defends during the first half at Imperial Arena. credits: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

After a busy stretch of action away from Lubbock, Texas Tech goes back to work at home Wednesday when Omaha comes to town.

The Red Raiders (5-2) split four games away from home, most recently a gritty, 103-95 overtime setback at Butler in the Big East/Big 12 Battle. The Mavericks (5-4) are on the road after thumping NAIA foe Bellevue 78-59 for their third win in a row.

Texas Tech played at a high level in the loss at Hinkle Fieldhouse in its first true road game of the season. Guards Chance McMillian (24 points on eight 3-pointers), Joe Toussaint (18 points, 12 assists) and Pop Isaacs (18 points, game-tying shot to force overtime) led the way.

With McMillian's career night from beyond the arc (8 of 10) as the centerpiece, Texas Tech shot a sizzling 50 percent from deep (13 of 26) and turned the ball over only seven times in 45 minutes, compared to a season-best 23 assists.

Toussaint's big night leaves him averaging a team-high 15 points and 4.3 assists per game. Issacs contributes 14.3 ppg. McMillian has connected on 15 of 35 from 3-point range.

"We've been down in a couple games by double figures and this group has found a way to competitively get themselves back in the game," first-year Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. "It's not always about making shots. It's about getting stops. It's with different guys stepping up. I think that with this team we will learn to grow to appreciate that no one needs to try to do it on their own."

That seems to be something the Mavericks have figured out, with four players averaging between 9.7 and 14.1 points.

Frankie Fidler leads the Mavericks with 14.1 ppg and is one of three players with 20 total assists. Nick Davis and Tony Osburn are providing 9.8 ppg, with Marquel Sutton at 9.7.

In Omaha's last outing, veteran big man Sutton took center stage with his first career double-double: 22 points and 13 rebounds, both season-high marks. In the game before that, Osburn connected on a single-game school-record nine 3-pointers against NAIA York — seven of those in the initial 18 minutes of the game — on the way to a career-high 32 points.

"It's not often you get to the point where you make seven, eight, nine 3s in a game," Omaha coach Chris Crutchfield said. "When you get that opportunity, you want to max it out and get the record."

—Field Level Media