Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Host Lions In Exhibition Game Saturday Night
November 07, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Texas Tech's Devaugntah Williams looks to lead Texas Tech against Texas A&M-Commerce in the final exhibition tune-up for the Red Raiders.
November 7, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech returns to action on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the United Supermarkets Arena against Texas A&M-Commerce in the Red Raiders' final men's basketball tune-up before opening the season next week.
Saturday's exhibition game against the Lions is free and open to the public.
The Red Raiders are coming off of an 79-67 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State on Monday. Robert Turner led the way, as the senior from Augusta, Ga., netted 19 points on the night.
Texas Tech is 3-0 all-time against Texas A&M-Commerce, but has not faced the Lions since 1949. Texas A&M-Commerce, which was known as East Texas State until 1996, is an NCAA Division II school that competes in the Lone Star Conference.
This marks the second time that the Lions have traveled west to Lubbock. Texas A&M-Commerce lost a pair of games against Texas Tech in February, 1927. The two teams met for a third time at the NAIB Regional Tournament in Fort Worth, where the Red Raiders toppled the Lions, 63-45, en route to an Elite Eight showing at the NAIB National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
Red Raider head coach Tubby Smith distributed the minutes evenly against Southeastern Oklahoma State, as 11 players saw action against the Savage Storm and nine players played 15 or more minutes in the game.
Smith's new-look Red Raiders are trying to find the right combination to replace the 64 percent of offense that departed after last season. Two Red Raiders that shined in the outing were sophomore Randy Onwuasor and junior college transfer Devaugntah Williams. Onwuasor finished the night with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Williams walked away with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Texas Tech's lineup features seven newcomers, including five freshmen - Keenan Evans, Justin Gray, Isaiah Manderson, Norense Odiase and Zach Smith. Four of the five freshmen combined 24 points and 13 rebounds. Gray, who sat out the exhibition opener with a foot injury, is expected to make his debut against the Lions.
The Red Raiders are 5-0 against NCAA Division II teams in exhibition games since the format changed a decade ago. Prior to that, NCAA Division I schools would play foreign national teams, touring travel squads and all-star teams.
Texas Tech looks to build upon Monday's exhibition on Saturday as the Red Raiders head towards the season opener on Nov. 14 against Loyola (Md.). The season opener features the Battle of Smiths, as Texas Tech's Tubby Smith will square off against his son G.G. Smith, who is the head coach of Loyola. G.G. played for Tubby at the University of Georgia.
The season-opener will tip-off at 8 p.m., following the Lady Raiders' 5:30 p.m. matchup against Jacksonville State. Season tickets or tickets for the opener can be purchased on online at www.texastech.com or by calling (806)742-8324.
