BROOKLYN, NY — The Texas Tech Red Raiders secured third place at the UKG Legends Classic with a 79-74 victory over Syracuse on Friday at Barclays Center. Led by Darrion Williams' 20-point performance, the Red Raiders (5-1) bounced back from Thursday’s loss to Saint Joseph’s, displaying sharp ball movement, strong defense, and clutch shooting.
- Darrion Williams shot 9-of-14 from the field, adding a dunk and a key three-pointer during a decisive second-half run.
- JT Toppin contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
- Elijah Hawkins, the NCAA active leader in assists per game, added 11 points and six assists with only one turnover.
- Chance McMillian remained consistent, scoring in double figures for the sixth consecutive game with 13 points, including three three-pointers.
The game was tied 31-31 at halftime, but the Red Raiders broke away in the second half, using an 18-7 scoring advantage off turnovers and hitting critical three-pointers to build a lead as large as 12 points. Syracuse (3-2) fought back but was unable to overcome Texas Tech’s efficiency. The Red Raiders recorded 17 assists with only three turnovers, while forcing 12 Orange turnovers.
“We wanted to win it all, but coming out after the loss and playing well as a team was good,” Williams said. “We found resilience and stepped up on defense.”
Head Coach Grant McCasland praised the team's composure:
“I thought Syracuse’s attack was great and had us on our heels, but in the end, we got stops. The difference was 17 assists to three turnovers. That’s what won us the game.”
- Texas Tech shot 40.6% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc (8-of-21).
- Syracuse held a 37-31 rebounding advantage but committed 12 turnovers compared to Tech’s three.
- Tech capitalized on turnovers, scoring 18 points off Syracuse’s miscues.
November 29, 2024: Texas Tech hosts Northern Colorado in Lubbock. The Golden Bears (4-2) will face Prairie View A&M and Northern New Mexico before traveling to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders hold a 4-0 record in the all-time series and bring a 34-game non-conference home winning streak into the matchup.
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