Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Central Arkansas
Texas Tech Prevails Over Central Arkansas, 79-57
December 15, 2013 | Men's Basketball
December 15, 2013
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Dejan Kravic came off the bench to scored 13 points and added five rebounds to lead Texas Tech to a 79-57 over Central Arkansas on Sunday.
Jaye Crockett, Jordan Tolbert and Toddrick Gotcher each added 10 points for the Red Raiders.
Oliver Wells led Central Arkansas (2-5) with 14 points, shooting 4 of 6 from 3-point range while Jalen Jackson and Deshone McClure each added 11 points.
The teams traded the lead five times early in the first half until a Kader Tapsoba jumper ultimately regained the lead for the Red Raiders, 23-22, with 6:08 remaining. Robert Turner and Aaron Ross scored the Texas Tech's (7-3) next 13 points, helping them take a 39-26 lead into the half.
The Bears stormed out the second half on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 39-33 with 17:19 left in the game until Kravic added eight consecutive points for Tech to pull away.
Tubby Smith's 7-3 start marks the fourth time in program history that a first-year Red Raider head coach has started the season 7-3 or better, joining Gene Gibson (1961, 8-2), Bob Knight 2001 (2001, 9-1) and Pat Knight (2009, 7-3).
Texas Tech improved to 6-0 at home for the first time since 2011-12 and the 24th time in program history. The Red Raiders now host LSU on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena looking to improve to 7-0 at home for the first time since starting 12-0 at the USA during the 2009-10 season.
