Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Charlotte
Red Raiders Rock Charlotte, 76-73
March 18, 2004 | Men's Basketball
March 18, 2004
Box Score?|? Photo Gallery | Postgame Press Conf. Video
By JOHN KEKIS
AP Sports Writer
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - For one day, Bob Knight found something to enjoy about Buffalo.
Senior Andre Emmett and freshman Jarrius Jackson each scored 11 points to lead a first-half surge and Texas Tech held off Charlotte 76-73 in the first round of the NCAA tournament Thursday.
The game turned out much better for Knight than his last trip here, when he lost to Pepperdine in his final game as coach of Indiana in 2000.
"I'm glad the outcome of this game replaces the outcome of the last game in Buffalo," Knight said after the 43rd tournament victory of his career, fourth all-time and one more than Lute Olson and Denny Crum. "I feel pleased for our kids to have the chance to go on."
So did Emmett, who still remembers a first-round loss to Southern Illinois two years ago.
"It feels better than my sophomore year," said Emmett, whose steal and fastbreak layup in the final minute turned out to be the game-winner. "We came in with a different attitude and were fortunate to come out with a win."
Texas Tech (23-10), the eighth seed in the East Rutherford Regional, will play the winner of the game between top-seeded Saint Joseph's (27-1) and Liberty (18-14). Charlotte (21-9), the ninth seed, never managed to get its up-tempo game going, shooting 6-of-24 from beyond the arc.
The game turned late in the first half. Jackson, a freshman guard, scored seven points during a 14-0 run that gave the Red Raiders a commanding lead. Jackson hit a 3-pointer to begin the run, finished it with a steal and fastbreak layup, and ended the period by hitting a pullup jumper just before the buzzer to put Tech up 39-25.
"When we had the lead at the half, my thought was to get into free throws as quick as we can," Knight said. "We didn't play perfectly going down to the wire, but we were able to take a five-point lead and build it."
Tech maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half, building it to 53-40.
The 49ers then made one final run. Two free throws by Curtis Withers capped a 10-4 spurt and moved Charlotte to 55-50 with 5:47 to go. That had Knight up and yelling at the officials for the first time and the Red Raiders responded.
Freshman Darryl Dora, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, hit two free throws, Mikey Marshall converted a one-handed leaner in the lane, and Jackson hit a jumper in the lane to boost the Tech lead to 61-52 with 3:57 left. A slam follow at the shot-clock buzzer by Marshall less than a minute later sealed the 49ers' fate, and Tech converted 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute.
 Mikey Marshall had 15 points and four assists.  | |
Withers led Charlotte with 17 points and nine rebounds, Mitchell Baldwin and Eddie Basden each scored 11, Butter Johnson had 10, and long-range aces Brendan Plavich and Demon Brown each had eight.
"The game resembled most of the games we lost this year," Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz said. "We had been getting good shots and missing. We'd fall back, make runs, and every time we'd have a key turnover. Those are the things we have to do to take the next step, but our guys battled to the end."
The 49ers pressed in the second half and made it close at the end when Withers hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer, but the game belonged to Tech and its venerable coach.
Knight, who led the Hoosiers to 24 tournament appearances in his 29 years there, last won in the first round in 1999. Before his tourney appearance in Buffalo the following year, Knight had to defend his basketball program and coaching methods after former Indiana player Neil Reed alleged that he was choked by Knight during a practice.
The sixth-seeded Hoosiers then lost to 11th-seeded Pepperdine, 77-57. He was fired six months later.
In his three seasons at Texas Tech, Knight has turned around the program and produced a winner, leading the Red Raiders to two NCAA tournament berths and another in the NIT.
