Texas Tech Ends 4-Game Losing Streak With 76-69 Win Over TCU
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FORT WORTH (AP) - Aaron Ross caught the inbound pass and was wide open for a 3-pointer. Just like that, Texas Tech was back in front to stay.
Ross hit the go-ahead 3 right after TCU took its only lead of the second half, and the Red Raiders led the rest of the way in a 76-69 victory Monday night that ended their four-game losing streak.
"I was just hoping that it goes in. If it wasn't, I would have gotten in trouble," Ross said, eliciting a chuckle from coach Tubby Smith next to him.
"Nah, you were wide open," Smith said.
TCU had trailed since midway through the first half until Vladimir Brodziansky hit five consecutive free throws in a 43-second span. The last came after he was fouled trying to shoot a 3-pointer with 3:02 left.
But the Red Raiders (12-5, 2-4 Big 12) went back ahead after Zach Smith's inbound pass to Ross with 2:47 left that made it 70-68. It was a called play for Ross, who scored six of his 16 points in that closing stretch.
Ross finished 4-of-4 shooting, including three 3s, and made 5-of-6 free throws. Justin Gray added 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting as Tech shot 55 percent overall (26 of 47) and 60 percent on 3-pointers (9 of 15).
"We made some early shots," Smith said. "I guess the right guys were making shots."
Chauncey Collins had 19 points to lead TCU (9-9, 1-5). Brodziansky had 18 points, with his five consecutive free throws capping a 16-4 run that gave the Frogs their only lead of the second half.
Texas Tech led 42-35 at half after six unanswered points in the final minute, including two baskets in the last 2 seconds.
After Keenan Evans got credited with a basket on a goaltending call with 1.4 seconds left, JD Miller had an errant throw on the inbound pass that wasn't touched before going out of bounds. No time ran off and Tech got the ball under its basket, where C.J. Williamson passed to Gray for a buzzer-beating layup.
"We didn't finish the half very well," TCU coach Trent Johnson said. "Got a lot of defensive breakdowns, right in front of our bench, right in front of me, and we took some ill-advised shots."
BIG HURT
Texas Tech center Norense Odiase, who is from Fort Worth, suffered a broken bone in his right foot in the first half. The Red Raiders are unsure how long the 6-foot-9 sophomore might be out. "We'll have to see when we get back how long, what we'll have to do, whether he'll need surgery or not. I hope not," Smith said. "He's that rock and that inside force that we need." Odiase had eight points on 4-of-6 shooting in 8 minutes before leaving the game with 7:18 left in the first half.
MISSING EASY ONES
The Horned Frogs missed two layups in the first half. Less than 2 minutes into the game, Chris Washburn had a steal but missed a breakaway layup with no defenders near him. Brandon Parrish missed a 3-pointer with just over 5 minutes left before halftime but after TCU got the rebound, he blew a layup chance.
TIP-INS
Texas Tech: Tech went ahead with more than 11 minutes left in the first half after Gray and Ross hit consecutive 3-pointers.
The losing streak for the Red Raiders came after they had opened Big 12 play with an 82-74 victory Jan. 2 over Texas.
TCU: The Frogs have lost three in a row since beating Texas 58-57 in their previous home game. ... TCU is 3-2 overall since moving into its completely redone campus arena last month.
UP NEXT
Texas Tech hosts No. 6 West Virginia on Saturday.
TCU hosts No. 19 Iowa State on Saturday.
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