Red Raiders and Lady Raiders Split Saturday Games Against Jayhawks
The Red Raiders season has been a disjointed mess in the last few months. Not because of their play but because of the off-the-court issues, rescheduling and ultimately postponements they've had to deal with. They've had two unplanned bye weeks and have subsequently failed to get into a rhythm.
Never has that been more evident than Saturday afternoon's sluggish performance against the Jayhawks in which the Red Raiders looked like they hadn't played in nearly two weeks. Because they hadn't. This team has needed a stretch of basketball to allow them to gel and come together and the team nearly had it going after they beat LSU but the first round but they couldn't stay consistently on the court due to other programs and winter weather.
The Red Raiders looked timid in spots but still found themselves in a three-point game with less than a minute left after a Terrence Shannon three-pointer. Christian Braun would answer thought to make the final a six-point victory for the Jayhawks at 67-61. Marcus Santos-Silva would lead the Red Raiders in scoring with 12 joined by Kevin McCullar. The pair would combine for 15 rebounds as well.
Texas Tech next plays Oklahoma State on Monday night showing on ESPN.
The Lady Raiders would also be in danger of losing late in the game against their own Jayhawks opponent just a few hours later, but Vivian Gray and Lexi Gordon would score 7 points in the final minute and change to force overtime eventually winning 99-98 in a thrilling victory.
Vivian Gray would finish with 38 points with 10 rebounds leading the team in both categories. Lexi Gordon added 14 points of her own.
With the win, the Lady Raiders are 10-12 overall and 5-11 in Big 12 play.
In the extra period, Gray, Najé Murray and Gordon all scored before Kansas did, putting the Lady Raiders up 10. The overtime period was just getting started though, Kansas followed that scoring spree with a 9-0 run of its own. In the end, Zakiyah Franklin from Kansas missed a game-winner and Brynn Gerlich got a clutch steal, allowing the Lady Raiders to hold on and seal the victory.
Their Lady Raiders regular-season finale will be Wednesday night against Kansas State.
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