Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
No. 17 Iowa
Red Raiders Fall To No. 17 Iowa, 83-53
December 21, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2004
By NANCY ARMOUR
AP National Writer
CHICAGO - Bob Knight taught Steve Alford well. Maybe too well.
Adam Haluska matched his career-high with 21 points, Pierre Pierce added 15 and No. 17 Iowa routed Texas Tech 83-53 at the United Center on Tuesday night, giving Alford his first victory against Knight.
Alford is 1-3 against his former coach. The two met at halfcourt after the final buzzer, shook hands and chatted briefly.
Jarrius Jackson led Texas Tech with 16 points and seven assists. Martin Zeno added 11 points, but the Red Raiders shot less than 36 percent and had 21 turnovers.
The Hawkeyes (10-1) had 10 blocked shots, one shy of the school record, on their way to their seventh straight victory. They won easily despite an off night from leading scorer Jeff Horner, who finished with a season-low seven points, nine below his average.
Alford's basketball career has been intertwined with Knight for more than 20 years. He played for Knight at Indiana from 1983-87, helping the coach win 92 games and the 1987 national championship. He was also played for Knight on the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics.
Alford said earlier this week he had the "utmost respect" for Knight, and there's a picture of them shaking hands in the Texas Tech media guide.
There was nothing but love Tuesday. The two smiled and laughed as they shook hands before the game, and Knight draped his left arm around Alford's shoulder as they talked. Before the two walked to their benches, Alford patted his old coach on the elbow.
That's about where the fun ended for Knight, though. Jackson converted a three-point play 32 seconds into the game to give Texas Tech the lead, but Haluska quickly wiped it out.
He hit a 7-foot jumper, grabbed the rebound on the other end and made a 3-pointer. He then poked the ball away from Jackson and took it in for a layup, drawing a foul in the process. He made the free throw, capping his own 8-0 run.
He fed Pierce on an 8-foot bank shot, then made another 3 to give Iowa a 15-6 lead with 13:59 left in the first half, and the Red Raiders never threatened again. They trailed by double digits the entire second half.
