Texas Tech tops #5 Kansas 69-64, awaits #8 A&M Wednesday

[TJC_fan]

Texas Tech 69, (5) Kansas 64

By BETSY BLANEY, Associated Press Writer

January 20, 2007

 

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Bob Knight considered astrology in trying to explain Darryl Dora's play in Texas Tech's 69-64 win over No. 5 Kansas on Saturday.

 

"Maybe the moon was right," Knight said. "Darryl played, which is sometimes unusual."

 

Dora scored 19 points to help the Red Raiders snap the Jayhawks' 10-game winning streak.

 

It was the second time Tech has beaten the Jayhawks when they came to Lubbock as a Top 10 team. Dora was also the difference the last time. In February 2005, Dora hit a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime to beat then-No. 2 Kansas 80-79.

 

The last ranked team the Red Raiders beat was Gonzaga, which was ranked 11th going into the 2005 NCAA tournament. The win gave Knight his first regional semifinals appearance since 1994 when he was still at Indiana.

 

As they did two years ago, the fans stormed the court and chanted "Bob-by! Bob-by!" after Knight left the court.

 

"I couldn't believe all those fans coming on the floor until I realized we broke the record again," Knight deadpanned about getting win No. 883 against the Jayhawks. He made the remark as he strolled through the media room after finishing his postgame comments.

 

Tech played patiently after going ahead late in the first half. The Red Raiders didn't relinquish the lead the rest of the game and often waited until the final 10 seconds on the shot clock to go for a bucket.

 

Tech widened their lead steadily and got ahead 59-47 on two free throws by Dora with 5:27 remaining. But when Tech got up 61-49, Kansas used a 13-1 run to tie it at 62 with 1:42 remaining. Jackson then hit a floater in the lane and was fouled. He hit the free throw to put Tech up 65-62 with 1:03 remaining.

 

Knight said Tech has a problem losing leads and Saturday "didn't break our string."

 

"You just aren't going to beat a really good team badly all the time, and they came back," Knight said.

 

Tech (14-5, 3-1 Big 12) executed Knight's tight man-to-man defense consistently in the second half. Until the 3:42 mark, Kansas scored on only 11 of 25 possessions.

 

Tech hit six of its 16 3-point attempts, with Dora connecting on three of his eight attempts. Jackson, Tech's leading scorer, didn't get his first field goal until he hit a 3-pointer with 17:45 left in the game. He finished with 15 points and Martin Zeno added 14.

 

Tech next plays No. 8 Texas A&M in Lubbock on Wednesday night. Will the win carry over?

 

"You never know that," Knight said. "You'd like to do that but you're not dealing with robots that you press buttons. You're dealing with kids."

 

BIG WIN over a highly ranked Kansas team. And with the Ags coming to town next ... this would be a nice feather in Bobby's Knight hat. He appears to have his team going in the right direction to have a very successful and playoff year.