PREVIEW: Arkansas-Pine Bluff

LUBBOCK, Texas – On a seven-game winning streak to start the season, with the nation's top statistical defense and climbing in the national polls, No. 13 Texas Tech begins a three-game home stand by hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the United Supermarkets Arena.

The Red Raiders (7-0) have won 42 straight non-conference home games coming into their game against the Golden Lions (2-5) and are off to the best start to a season since going 9-0 to begin 2009-10. TTU is currently 4-0 at home this and is coming off a 78-67 win over Memphis last Saturday at the Air Force Reserve Hoophall Invitational in Miami. The team has outscored its opponents by a 33-point margin at the USA, most recently a 93-62 win over Northern Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 24.

Texas Tech leads the nation by limiting opponents to 33.8 percent shooting this season, including limiting two opponents to 26 percent shooting and holding Memphis to 34.8 percent in the win last Saturday. The Red Raiders have held opponents to 53.3 points per game, which is third in the nation, and has outscored teams throughout the first seven games by a 25.1 margin that ranks fourth. TTU, which is one of only 11 teams in the nation still unbeaten, ranks first in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage defense, scoring defense, scoring margin and 3-point field goal defense (24.8%). Offensively, the Red Raiders rank second in the conference by shooting 50.6 percent from the field, have a 71.1 free-throw shooting percentage and have a 1.43 assist-to-turnover ratio.

"They are a really scary team that has our full attention and respect," Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard said. "They are really athletic with a guard who is averaging over 25 points per game. He's an aggressive player who puts pressure on the defense. They have good shooters and good size. Our bigs will have to play well. They play an open-floor game. There are similarities between Memphis and Pine Bluff in how they like to run so we are going to have to clean up a lot of things. We're going to have to play well. Our players will be dialed in just like we were going to be playing Kansas."

PLAYER NOTES: Tariq Owens established a new Texas Tech single-game record with eight blocked shots against Memphis where he also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Owens, who is in his first season with the Red Raiders after arriving as a graduate transfer from St. John's, currently leads the Big 12 with 3.29 blocked shots and is 11th nationally with 23 blocks through seven games. His double-double was the first for a Red Raider this season and it came with him recording a career-high 11 rebounds. Jarrett Culver leads Texas Tech with 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. A sophomore from Lubbock, Culver has recorded three straight games with 20 or more points after a stat line of 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in the win over the Tigers. He matched a career-high with 26 points in a win over Nebraska at the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City two weeks ago and has scored in double-digits in all seven games and has led the team in scoring in six of seven games. Culver, who is a Jerry West Watch List and Big 12 Preseason Honorable Mention selection, has recorded 548 points, 214 rebounds and 99 assists in 44 career games.

Matt Mooney is averaging 10.6 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 4.1 rebounds per game in his first season at Texas Tech, while Davide Moretti is at 10.0 points and 2.7 assists per game to start his sophomore season. Mooney, a graduate transfer from South Dakota, scored a season-high 17 points in the win over Southern Cal and Moretti has recorded two 17-point performances against Mississippi Valley State and USC. Moretti had a career-high six assists in the season-opener against Incarnate Word and had three steals against Southeastern Louisiana.

Brandone Francis, Kyler Edwards and Deshawn Corprew lead the Texas Tech bench, while senior Norense Odiase is averaging 5.3 rebounds per game in his starting role. Odiase recorded a career-high 13 rebounds in the win over SLU and also had 10 rebounds against Mississippi Valley. A redshirt senior, Odiase enters Wednesday's game with 393 rebounds in his career at Texas Tech. Francis is coming off scoring 11 points against Northern Colorado and 10 against Memphis and is averaging 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game to start his senior season. A Dominican Republic native, Francis recorded a career-high six assists in the win over Memphis where he played a season-high 32 minutes. Corprew added 12 points and five rebounds against Memphis, while Edwards had nine after scoring a career-high 19 points in the win over UNC where he was 7-for-7 from the field and 4-for-4 on 3-pointers. Edwards is averaging 7.4 points per game as a freshman where he is shooting 57.1 percent from the field.

Moretti, Odiase, Culver, Owens and Mooney have started all seven games for the Red Raiders this season.

ABOUT UAPB: The Golden Lions travel to Lubbock with a 2-5 record after taking a 105-49 loss to Cincinnati on Nov. 27 after a 75-66 win over Little Rock. Martaveous McKnight leads UAPB with 25.0 points per game and is also adding 4.7 rebounds per game. Charles Jackson is at 10.6 points per game and Shaun Doss is at 10.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in a reserve role. The Golden Lions are coached by George Ivory who is in his 11th season leading the program.

COACHING NOTES: Chris Beard won his 50th game as the head coach at Texas Tech with a 70-52 victory over No. 25 Nebraska on Nov. 20, 2018 to capture the Hall of Fame Classic Championship. He enters Saturday's game with 52 wins as the Red Raider head coach and is 148-54 in seven years as a head coach in the NCAA after last Saturday's win over Memphis. Beard matched Bob Knight for the fastest to 50 wins at Texas Tech with both head coaches reaching their 50th win in Lubbock in their 74th game leading the program. Knight won his 50th game at Tech against UTEP on Dec. 3, 2003 with Beard as an assistant coach. Beard is currently 37-4 in home games at Texas Tech, including a 23-0 record in non-conference home games.

POLLS: Texas Tech has surged to No. 13 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 and USA TODAY Coaches Poll after knocking off Memphis last Saturday to remain one of only 11 teams in the nation still unbeaten. Texas Tech is also ranked No. 10 in the ESPN Power Rankings for the second straight week and No. 12 in the CBS Sports Top 25. The Red Raiders have been as high as No. 1 in the NCAA NET, but are now at No. 5 behind Virginia, Gonzaga, Michigan and Duke in Monday's release. The team is in both polls for the second straight week after entering them for the first time last week at No. 20 in the AP Poll and No. 19 in the Coaches Poll.

COVERING THE RED RAIDERS: Texas Tech and Arkansas-Pine Bluff will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest Plus with John Harris and Chris Level calling the game. On the radio, Geoff Haxton and Clark Lammert will broadcast on Texas Tech Sports Network's flagship station Double T 97.3 in Lubbock. Fans can interact with the broadcast by following @GunsUpRadio on Twitter.

UP NEXT: Texas Tech will have a week away from competition following the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a return to the court on Wednesday, Dec. 12 against Northwestern State at the USA. The Red Raiders then host Abilene Christian at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum. The game between the Red Raiders and Wildcats will be the final basketball game in the historic facility.

FOLLOW TEXAS TECH: All season long on a daily basis the Texas Tech Athletic Communications staff provides updated information and content to highlight the Red Raiders. Fans and media can stay connected by following the team @TexasTechMM on Twitter and Instagram and at Facebook.com/TexasTechMBB.

TICKETS: The Texas Tech Athletics Ticket Office is selling season tickets for as low as $135 online at www.TexasTech.com. Fans also can purchase season tickets in person at the Texas Tech Athletics Ticket Office located on the East Side of Jones AT&T Stadium or over the phone at (806) 742-8324 (TECH).

We had fun at the beach, but being back by the ?? is where we belong. Pull up a seat and get your weekly #FiresideChat update from @CoachBeardTTU and our special guest, The Godfather. #4To1

Hidden ??: #GristmillInGruene @GrueneTX
??Selections: @Travistritt, #NotoriousBIG pic.twitter.com/WiF02DP0r1
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) December 4, 2018

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Players Mentioned

Brandone Francis

Deshawn Corprew

Jarrett Culver

Kyler Edwards

Matt Mooney

Davide Moretti

Norense Odiase

Tariq Owens