Late Run Lifts Texas Tech Over Buffs, 63-55
LUBBOCK, Texas – Cory Higgins scored a game-high 21 points and Dwight Thorne II added 13, but Texas Tech ended the game with a 12-6 run to score a 63-55 victory over the University of Colorado men's basketball team, Tuesday night.
The Buffs fall to 8-9 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12 while the Red Raiders snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 11-7, 1-2.
"Our guys really tried to play to win and they battled their butt off," said CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik on the AM 760 post-game radio show. "But we can't lose our spirit and we didn't. We played really hard and just came up a little short in a lot of areas. A little bit here and a little bit there makes a difference. We just have to be a little bit more efficient. It's just a case where we just need to keep battling and keep improving."
Higgins also grabbed seven rebounds and also recorded his seventh game this season with over 20 points scored. In addition, to leading the team in scoring and rebounding 11 times this season, Higgins netted his third 20-point effort over his last four games.
Freshman Nate Tomlinson chipped-in with nine points (three, three-pointers) and a career-best four steals.
Colorado trailed 27-23 at halftime, but the Buffs came back as Tomlinson hit a three-pointer with 15:53 remaining to tie the game at 34. A Thorne layup gave CU a 36-34 advantage, however one minute later the Red Raiders came back quickly as John Roberson scored a layup and a jumper, pushing Texas Tech ahead to stay.
Tech had a 51-49 lead with 3:28 remaining before Mike Singletary outscored Colorado 12-6 the rest of the way. He hit four field goals, including two fastbreak dunks, and four free throws.
Colorado shot 40.8 percent (20-of-49) from the field for the game and Texas Tech hit 23-of-53 (43.4 percent).
The Buffs, who tallied a season-high nine first half steals, finished with 14 steals the most since posting 19 versus Savannah State on Jan. 3, 2006 and most in a league game since Feb. 17, 2001 (14 vs. Nebraska).
The Red Raiders were led by Singletary, who finished with 20 points, followed by Roberson (13 points) and Nick Okorie (10 points).
Colorado returns home to host Kansas State on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big 12 Network.
Game Notes:
- Higgins and Thorne have recorded double-digits in the same game 11 times this season.
- Sophomore Levi Knutson grabbed a career-high two steals.
- Higgins started for the 49th straight game.
- Senior Jermyl Jackson-Wilson played his 76th career game.
- Colorado has made a three-pointer in 211 consecutive games. The Buffs made five three-pointers tonight.
- CU is 0-4 on the road this season.