Red Raiders Look To Stay Perfect At Home
December 14, 2014 | Men's Basketball
December 13, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech will look to improve to 7-0 at United Supermarkets Arena on Sunday, as the Red Raiders host Prairie View A&M at 1 p.m.
Texas Tech, who is 6-1 on the season, has won six straight games this season in United Supermarkets Arena and looks to extend that mark to seven straight on Sunday. The Red Raiders have started the season 7-0 at home five other times in the Big 12 Era and 20 times overall.
"We are looking to get better with each game," said Red Raider head coach Tubby Smith. "We set the schedule up in a way to allow us to grow as a team. We are a young team and we are coming together a little more each day."
The Red Raiders have trailed in five of its seven games, but in four of those games Smith's Red Raiders have fought back to secure a win. Texas Tech recorded the second biggest comeback in the Big 12 Era with a 19-point comback against Air Force and an 11-point comeback against Auburn.
But last time out, the Red Raiders led start to finish, as Texas Tech dropped Fresno State, 73-56, as Devaugntah Williams led the way with 17 points. Freshman Justin Gray added a career-best 16 points and Toddrick Gotcher chipped in 13 on a perfect shooting night.
Texas Tech is facing Prairie View for the second time in three years. The Red Raiders dropped the Panthers, 89-79, to open the season in 2012. Only Gotcher, Luke Adams and Clark Lammert were on the squad for that victory. Only one Panther was present during the last meeting -- Montrael Scott.
The Panthers are just 1-8 on the season and have came up short against Big 12 Schools TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma State.
The Red Raiders will also look to extend its streak of holding its opponent under 70 points for the eighth straight game. It is the first time Texas Tech has recorded such a feat since the 1980-81 season. It is also only the second time a Tubby Smith-coached team has run such a streak. Smith's 1996-97 Georgia Bulldogs held its first 12 opponents under 70 points.
Williams is leading the Red Raiders with 12.6 points, followed by Norense Odiase's 10.1 points and Robert Turner's 9.9 points. Williams leads the Big 12 and is fourth nationally in 3-point shooting, hitting at 63.0 percent from deep.
After Sunday's game, Texas Tech will open play in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic. as the Red Raiders host South Carolina State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday at 8 p.m. Both games are slated for United Supermarkets Arena. The Red Raiders will then travel to Las Vegas to take on Loyola Chicago on Dec. 22.
