Texas Tech University Athletics
No. 16/20 Texas Tech at Wichita State on Saturday
December 15, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech is back on the road as they take on the Shockers of Wichita State on Saturday at the Charles Koch Arena beginning at 7 p.m.
Texas Tech moved up seven spots to No. 16 in the latest Associated Press poll after their 80-70 road win at TCU. The Red Raiders were No. 20 the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Their AP ranking is the highest since joining the Big 12 Conference and it is their first showing in the ESPN/USA Today poll since having last appeared in the final ranking in the 2004-2005 season.
The Texas Tech at Wichita State game will be televised on Kansas 22 for Time Warner Cable subscribers. Bruce Haertl and Craig Steven will provide the play-by-play and the game analysis.
On the radio, Mark Finkner will call the courtside action along with analyst Corky Oglesby on the Texas Tech Sports Network flagship station Double T 104.3.
The Red Raiders and the Shockers are meeting for the fourth time since the series began on December 18, 1965. Wichita State leads the series 2-1.
Last season, the Red Raiders edged the Shockers in Lubbock, 72-69. Wichita State's leading scorers were Clevin Hannah (24 pts) and A.J. Hawkins (18 pts). Alan Voskuil and John Roberson each scored 20 points for Texas Tech.
This season, Wichita State (9-1) is averaging 74.3 points per game. The Shockers opened with wins over Fairleigh Dickinson and Arkansas-Monticello before dropping a game against Pittsburgh. Wichita State then stopped their next seven opponents with the most recent win being at home against TCU on December 12, 80-68.
The Shockers return six players from last year's game with the Red Raiders. Toure Murry (13.9 ppg), JT Durley (11.0 ppg), Clevin Hannah (9.4), and Garrett Stutz (8.9 ppg) are their top four scorers this season. David Kyles has started twice this season and averages 7.2 points per game. Aaron Ellis (5.1 ppg) has started each game this year, and newcomer Graham Hatch has started each game and posts 8.6 points per game.
On December 8, the Red Raiders won at TCU, 80-70. No. 23 Texas Tech entered the game ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since March 14, 2005 when they were in the No. 24 spot. The Red Raiders were listed 26th the ESPN/USA Today Poll prior to the TCU game.
TCU's Zvonko Buljan led all scorers with 24 points. Ronnie Moss (11 pts.) and Garlon Green (10 pts.) added double figures for the Horned Frogs.
John Roberson led the Red Raiders with 21 points. Mike Singletary scored 17 points and David Tairu added 14 points.
D'walyn Roberts grabbed 19 rebounds at TCU. It is his career best and the top Texas Tech rebounding mark since Andy Ellis, a May 2002 graduate, hauled down 20 rebounds against Prairie View A&M on January 3, 2000.
After the Wichita State game, the Red Raiders will be back in action at home against Stanford on December 22. The game tips at 7 p.m. and will not be televised.
To become a 2009-2010 season ticket holder or to purchase tickets for basketball games at the United Spirit Arena, please call (888) GO-BIG-12 or (806) 742-TECH or stop by the Texas Tech Athletic Ticket Office in the north end of Jones AT&T Stadium.
