Tech Rallies To Stun Kansas

Rayford Young can't explain how Texas Tech can struggle through a season like this one, losing to some of the teams it has, and then rally from a 14-point deficit to beat No. 24 Kansas for the first time.

Young scored a career-high 41 points Saturday, including 10 free throws in the final 58 seconds, and the Red Raiders held on for a 90-84 victory.

"This win feels good, but it is frustrating to know you can beat teams like Kansas and lose the ones that we have," Young said.

"I wanted to win this game so bad, especially with the season we've had," said Young, who had only nine points at the half. "I felt a little tense in the first half. I was forcing some shots and started to get down."

Texas Tech (12-13, 4-8 Big 12) trailed 36-30 at the half, but the Red Raiders made 7 of 11 3-pointers and 27 of 29 free throws in their 60-point second half. Young himself was 18-of-18 from the free throw line and 5-of-7 from outside the 3-point line.

Kansas (16-8, 8-4) had a 62-48 lead at 10:08 before Young ignited the Tech comeback.

"They were amazing in the second half," Kansas coach Roy Williams said of the Raiders. "They were very efficient. They executed the things they needed to do well."

Jeff Boschee, Ryan Robertson and Nick Bradford each scored 16 points to lead Kansas, and Eric Chenowith added 14 points.

The Jayhawks, who won all 10 previous meetings between the teams, led 69-67 on a goal by Bradford with 4:26 remaining before Young's 3-pointer gave Tech a 70-69 advantage.

Another goal by Bradford tied the game 72-72 at 3:32, but the Red Raiders took the lead for good on Stan Bonewitz's 3-pointer. After a short baseline jumper by Andy Ellis put Tech up 77-72 with 2:44 left, the last 13 points by the Red Raiders came on free throws.

"We hit huge free throws down the stretch," Tech coach James Dickey said. "Rayford Young is as good as any point guard in the league, and he demonstrated that today. ... We did a good job of recognizing he was hot and getting him the basketball."

Bradford hit a 3-pointer for Kansas, but Young hit two free throws and Ellis made one of two free throws for an 80-75 lead.

From there, Boschee made three consecutive 3-pointers for Kansas, the last one pulling Kansas to 86-84 with 22 seconds remaining.

But Young kept hitting free throws when he was fouled making both shots on all five trips to the line in the final 58 seconds.

"It doesn't feel nearly as comfortable being on this side of a comeback," Williams said. "We've got to quit being so tentative and looking at the scoreboard waiting for the clock to run out. We have got to learn to finish games."

Bonewitz finished with 15 points, while Ellis, a freshman making only his second start, added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

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