Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Men's Basketball Faces UAB Tuesday Night
November 27, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2000
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Red Raiders Host UAB
Texas Tech faces the University of Alabama at Birmingham Tue., Nov. 28, in the United Spirit Arena on the Tech campus. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (CT).
The Red Raiders enter the game with a 2-0 mark, after knocking off Prairie View A&M in the home opener and Louisiana-Lafayette on the road.
The Blazers also are 2-0 with wins over Alabama A&M and LaSalle.
The UAB Game
The Red Raiders and Blazers have never met on the hardwood.
Tech vs. Conference USA
The Red Raiders have met seven current members of Conference USA over the years, but haven't played a team from the basketball-rich league since the inception of C-USA in 1995. Houston did not join Conference USA until the 1996-97 season. Tech's last meeting with the Cougars came in Southwest Conference play.
Last Time Out
Jamal Brown led all scorers with 23 points and 11 assists as Texas Tech went on the road and defeated 2000 NCAA Tournament participant Louisiana-Lafayette 94-73.
Cliff Owens recorded his second double-double in as many games with 19 points and 10 boards, while Andy Ellis added 20 points and eight rebounds. Ronald Hobbs chipped in 14.
The Red Raiders used a 10-1 run to open the second half and pull away for good at the Cajundome in Lafayette.
Orlando Butler led the Ragin' Cajuns with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Dominating the Paint
In two games this season, Texas Tech is out-scoring the opposition 80-34 in the paint. The Red Raiders dominated Prairie View A&M, out-scoring the Panthers 44-6 underneath the basket.
Double Threat
Tech starting point guard Jamal Brown is not only dishing the ball out, he's scoring as well. The junior college transfer is averaging 10 assists per game and is third on the team in scoring with 14.5 points per game. At Louisiana-Lafayette, Brown led all scorers with 23 points and 11 assists.
Lights Out
The Red Raiders have opened the season on a hot shooting streak. After shooting a respectable 46.3 percent from the field in the opener against Prairie View, the Red Raiders blistered UL Lafayette with 59.3 percent shooting from the field. Tech also hit 42.9 percent of its three-point attempts. The Red Raiders are shooting 52.1 percent on the season.
Running Away
Texas Tech has used runs to put away its first two opponents of the season. Tech went on an 18-3 run over a nine-minute period to subdue Prairie View A&M and opened the second half at ULL with a 10-1 run to extend its lead to 18. Tech led by as much as 29 over the Cajuns in the second half.
Raiders 2-0 Start First in Two Years
Texas Tech's 2-0 record is the best start since the 1998-99 season, when Tech opened 3-0.
The best start for a Tech team came at the beginning of the 1995-96 season when the Red Raiders opened the campaign with seven-straight wins. That team finished with a 30-2 record and a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
Tech Record in November
Texas Tech is 41-16 (.719) all-time in the month of November.
Six New Players Ready for Taste
Six players return from the 1999-00 season with six more set to make debuts as Red Raiders this season. Senior forward Cliff Owens also makes his return after sitting out last season while recovering from ankle surgery. Five freshmen will get their first taste of Division I basketball. Brannon Hayes (Port Arthur, Texas), Andre Emmett (Dallas, Texas), Rodney Bass (Baltimore, Md.), Mikey Marshall (Tulia, Texas) and Marcus Shropshire (Grand Prairie, Texas) begin their careers. Junior college transfer Jamal Brown (Dallas, Texas) also makes his debut as the Red Raiders' starting point guard.
Ellis Named to Preseason Teams
Texas Tech junior center Andy Ellis has been tabbed by three college basketball publications as a preseason All-Big 12 selection.
Ellis is listed as a second-team All-Big 12 selection by The Sporting News and Athlon Sports. Street and Smith's has Ellis listed as an All-Big 12 selection along with Jamaal Tinsley (Iowa State), Kimani Ffriend (Nebraska), Drew Gooden (Kansas) and Bernard King (Texas A&M).
Ellis, who injured his hand last month, averaged 16.9 points per game and 8.9 rebounds during the 1999-00 season before dislocating his left shoulder against Nebraska in the 14th game of the season that forced him to sit out the remainder of the year.
As a team, the Red Raiders are picked to finish 10th by Street and Smith's, 11th by Athlon Sports and eighth by The Sporting News in the Big 12.
Raiders Complete Preseason
Texas Tech won both tuneups in preparation for the 2000-01 season. The Red Raiders knocked off the California All-Stars (77-60) Mon., Nov. 13, and Athletes First (109-76) Thu., Nov. 16. The wins marked the 18th and 19th exhibition wins for Dickey.
Preseason Double-Double Count
Three Red Raiders posted double-doubles in the two preseason exhibition games:
Jamal Brown (22 points, 10 assists -- Athletes First)
Andy Ellis (18 points, 13 rebounds -- CA All-Stars)
Cliff Owens (19 points, 11 rebounds -- CA All-Stars)
