FORT WORTH — It was another comeback attempt for the 15th-ranked Texas Tech basketball team inside Schollmeyer Arena, but the Red Raiders were unable to repeat their weekend win and lost on Tuesday. They lost 85-78 on the night.
TCU, ranked No. 25 in the nation, was up 21-3 in the first half, answering everything the Red Raiders (16-4, 5-2) threw at them defensively. The Horned Frogs hit 11 3-pointers in the win.
Pop Isaacs had a career-high eight assists. Tech led by six points with about 1:10 left in regulation, but Isaac's three tries took the shot clock off and resulted in a turnover.
Foul trouble creates funky Texas Tech basketball lineup
TCU and Texas Tech both had multiple starters called for multiple fouls in the first half. Darrion Williams, Warren Washington and Kerwin Walton each received two fouls, and coach Grant McCasland's team put together some makeshift lineups on the fly.
It started with Washington and Walton getting fouled. Williams was shifted to the five-man slot, leading to Chance McMillian's transition 3-pointer.
But that didn't last long.
Williams was called up for a second individual competition shortly after. The Red Raiders then brought Walton back and inserted Lamar Washington into the No. 5 position for defensive purposes. Lamar Washington got a nice rebound and was fouled, but the intrigue unit was short-lived as he missed both of his subsequent free throws and gave up the offensive board.
Perimeter defense remains an issue for the Red Raiders
The Horned Frogs are not an elite 3-point shooting team. But they, like most teams that faced the Red Raiders in the Big 12, found their strokes from beyond the arc.
With 12:49 left in the second half, TCU had made 8 of 14 3-point shots. That includes 4-of-4 from Micah Peavy, who shot 24.5% from three to start Tuesday's game. . This marks the sixth consecutive game in which an opponent has hit at least eight threes against the Red Raiders.
Stringing can ultimately stop the problem.
Texas Tech remained in the standings thanks to its offensive prowess, but the ultimate drawback was the team's inability to string together stops.
The Red Raiders trailed every time, with Isaacs sinking a 3 to make it 75-70 TCU with 4:07 left. But the horned frog had an answer.
Jameer Nelson Jr. hit a 3-over ball over a lackluster McMillian with 1:43 left and the game fell short.
What's next?
The Red Raiders return home from a two-game road trip, hosting Cincinnati at United Supermarket Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m. Texas Tech overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to win its past two home games and is 11-0 in Lubbock this season.
