Texas Tech Upsets Number Four Texas in Austin
The Red Raiders and Texas Longhorns met in an empty arena in Austin Wednesday night. Texas was looking to prove they were the top team of the Big 12, and Texas Tech needed to prove that they were still in the Big 12 title picture. Only one team could truly prove themselves in front of a national audience, and it was Texas Tech. The Red Raiders got the win at the final buzzer thanks to a clutch shot from Mac McClung.
McClung finished with 22 points to lead all scorers. He'd add five rebounds and a steal to top of a fantastic night. Most importantly, he was 8-10 from the line leading the Red Raiders to shoot 78 percent from the free-throw line. The Longhorns shot 58 percent from the charity stripe, which was ultimately the difference in the game.
If you had told me that the Red Raiders won this game at halftime, I would've had trouble believing you. It's not that they were playing poorly, they had 38 points, but the Longhorns looked truly elite in the first half.
The Red Raiders started flat on defense and Texas hit all of their open shots. Including a great 52 percent from three with 13 makes, Texas Tech countered with 7 makes from deep at 36 percent shooting.
The Longhorns would take a 10-point lead into the half. Out of the half, Texas Tech scored two quick buckets to get within 6. Over the next 10 minutes, the Red Raiders would get within 5, and the Longhorns would battle back to stretch the lead to 10. With 8 minutes left, the Longhorns led, 67-60. McClung's free throws and a Kyler Edwards three-pointer would cut the lead to just 2: 67-65.
Micah Peavy would get a huge rebound and bucket to keep the two-point deficit in tact after a Jericho Sims bucket from Texas. Kevin McCullar would sink a free throw to get within one. Several possessions would go back and forth between Texas and the Red Raiders before Kyler Edwards would sink a three-pointer for the Red Raiders' first lead of the game since 2-1 in the opening minutes.
Texas would wrestle the lead right back, stretching it to 77-73 with 1:20 left on the clock.
McClung's free throws would make it 77-75. Then, Edwards would save a bad Texas Tech possession by stealing the inbounds and getting it to Terrence Shannon to tie the game at 77. Texas would miss a shot on the next possession and McClung would get the rebound. He'd dribble right down the court and nail the dagger with two seconds left on the clock.
Here's that shot again just for fun.
Texas would get a shot off, but miss, giving Texas Tech the 79-77 victory in Austin.
Edwards finished with 7 points, Shannon with 14 and McCullar finished with 16 and 8 with some huge plays in the second half. Santos-Silva finished with 12 and 4.