Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Texas A&M
Red Raiders Shoot Down Texas A&M, 76-64
February 19, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2000
By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - Freshman Ronald Hobbs, making his first college start, scored a career high 22 points as Texas Tech defeated Texas A&M 76-64 Saturday, avenging a controversial loss to the Aggies earlier this season.Freshman Ronald Hobbs, making his first college start, scored a career high 22 points as Texas Tech defeated Texas A&M 76-64 Saturday, avenging a controversial loss to the Aggies earlier this season.
The Red Raiders (11-12, 2-10 in Big 12) were leading 64-49 with 5:23 to play but the Aggies cut that lead to 70-64 with 53 seconds left before the Raiders pulled away again.
Hobbs had Tech's final three points, including a dunk at the final buzzer.
The first meeting Jan. 15 in Lubbock between the two teams ended in a major controversy. A shot by Aggie guard Andy Leatherman, which television replays indicated wasn't released in time, gave the Aggies an 88-86 victory and set off a loud protest by the Red Raiders.
A&M coach Melvin Watkins quickly got his players off the court and onto the team bus after being told the shot was good. Some players didn't get a shower and Watkins conducted his post-game interview on his cell phone en route to the air port.
Tech coach James Dickey wanted an overtime but the shot stood. As a result of the incident, Range was suspended for the rest of the season for failing to maintain protocol and the NCAA passed a rule that now allows officials to look at monitors on close calls.
Saturday, the Red Raiders took the suspense out of the rematch in a hurry, breaking from a 21-19 lead midway in the first half on a 21-8 run that gave them a 42-27 halftime lead.
Bernard King led Texas A&M's second-half rally, hitting 19 of his 21 points after the break. But Hobbs had 12 of his points in the second half to keep the Raiders in the lead.
