Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Preview: Auburn
November 21, 2016 | Men's Basketball
The Red Raiders play their first game away from Lubbock versus Auburn on Tuesday.
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech men's basketball team gears up to face Auburn in a matchup of undefeated teams Tuesday during the semifinals of the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico.
Tip time is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised nationally by the CBS Sports Network. Thad Anderson and Doug Gottlieb will serve as the announcing team.
The Texas Tech Sports Network will carry the game live on 97.3 FM, 100.7 FM and 950 AM in Lubbock. Geoff Haxton will have the call. The radio broadcast also will be available on the Texas Tech Sports Network radio affiliates, online at www.TexasTech.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
Both Texas Tech (3-0) and Auburn (3-0) carry three-game winning streaks to start the season into Tuesday's contest. The Red Raiders have defeated Houston Baptist (93-67), North Texas (70-43) and Eastern Kentucky (90-71) by an average of 24 points whereas the Tigers have notched convincing victories over North Florida (83-66), Georgia State (83-65) and Eastern Kentucky (85-64).
A victory would enable Texas Tech to secure the program's first 4-0 start dating back to the 2012-13 season. It also would be head coach Chris Beard 100th win at the NCAA coaching level over five seasons between McMurry (2012-13) Angelo State (2013-15), Little Rock (2015-16) and Texas Tech (2016-17).
"I did get a chance to see Auburn because they obviously played Eastern Kentucky in their last game," Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard said. "I have a lot of respect for Bruce Pearl. I had a chance to spend some time with him this summer at an Under Armour coaches trip. I didn't really know him, but I'd known of his teams and followed his teams at Tennessee. Coach Pearl has a Division II background, which I do as well. I have a lot of pride in where I come from, and I think Coach Pearl says the same things. His teams are always prepared – they're talented, and they play hard. Watching them against Eastern Kentucky – who again I think is really good – they've got our full attention.
The Red Raiders have two of the previous three meetings with Auburn which includes a 46-44 win as part the 2014-15 Big 12/SEC Challenge. Norense Odiase poured in 15 points and added seven rebounds during his freshman season, while Devaugntah Williams drove in and used a spin move for the game-winning layup with two seconds remaining.
About Texas Tech
Texas Tech rates among the Big 12's top three in three-point field goal percentage (48.9 – 1st), field goal percentage (53.6 – 2nd), scoring defense (60.3 – 2nd), free throw percentage (70.4 – 3rd), field goal percentage defense (34.9 – 3rd) and blocked shots (6.0 – 3rd).
The Red Raiders wiped away an early 15-point deficit against Eastern Kentucky en route to a 90-71 victory. Texas Tech dominated the paint and scored 36 of the game's 50 points. Through three games, the Red Raiders have outscored their opponents by a 104-48 margin in paint points.
Texas Tech has four starters averaging in double figures headed by Keenan Evans and Aaron Ross at 14.0 points per game. Ross is the only player to reach double figures in the first three games for the Red Raiders. He is 12-of-21 from the floor and scored a season-high 16 points against Eastern Kentucky.
Evans has started 35 consecutive games at point guard. He scored all 10 of his points during the second half during the Eastern Kentucky game and exploded for a career-high 28 points versus Houston Baptist in the season opener.
Shadell Millinghaus has provided 13.3 points per game on an efficient 14-of-20 shooting clip. Last time out, he turned in a 20-point performance and hit all seven of his shots against Eastern Kentucky. Millinghaus also grabbed seven rebounds and added two assists.
Anthony Livingston has chipped in 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game followed by Zach Smith's 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Smith has racked up eight blocks in his first three games which put him to 100 for his career. He is tied for sixth place in Tech history.
Texas Tech's bench has been sparked by Justin Gray, Niem Stevenson and Devon Thomas. Gray has tallied 9.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He came away with 11 of his season-high 17 points in the second half whereas Thomas posted career-highs with five rebounds, five assists and three steals against Eastern Kentucky.
"We'll have to play well in Cancun," Beard said. "It's a great opportunity for our team. We're not going to lose in Cancun. We're going to either win or we might run out of time, but we're not going to lose. We're going down there to win the trip. We're going to win in team bonding. We're going to win on the scoreboard, hopefully, or run out of time. We're going to win bringing our team together and having a great experience together."
About Auburn
Auburn's 3-0 start is the program's first since the 2011-12 season. Last time out, the Tigers put together a 15-2 run late in the second half to snatch an 85-64 win against Eastern Kentucky.
Auburn has started three freshmen and two sophomores during their first three games led by Danjel Purifoy's 16.3 points and Mustapha Heron's 14.7 points per game, respectively. Both players have pumped in double figures in the team's first three games.
Purifoy tallied 17 of his season's best 19 points during the second half against Georgia State, while Heron sank all eight of his field goal attempts and came away with his first career double-double fueled by 24 points and 10 rebounds versus the Colonels.
Jared Harper has tallied 11.7 points per game followed by Bryce Brown's 10.0 points per game. Auburn has a pair of impressive shot blockers on the interior in Horace Spencer and LaRon Smith. Smith, a graduate transfer from Bethune-Cookman, tied for third nationally in blocks last season.
Up Next
Texas Tech will play either No. 19 Purdue or Utah State in Wednesday's championship or consolation round at the Cancun Challenge. Tipoff is scheduled for either 5 p.m. CT or 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TexasTechMBB and @TexasTechMBB on Twitter.
Tip time is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised nationally by the CBS Sports Network. Thad Anderson and Doug Gottlieb will serve as the announcing team.
The Texas Tech Sports Network will carry the game live on 97.3 FM, 100.7 FM and 950 AM in Lubbock. Geoff Haxton will have the call. The radio broadcast also will be available on the Texas Tech Sports Network radio affiliates, online at www.TexasTech.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
Both Texas Tech (3-0) and Auburn (3-0) carry three-game winning streaks to start the season into Tuesday's contest. The Red Raiders have defeated Houston Baptist (93-67), North Texas (70-43) and Eastern Kentucky (90-71) by an average of 24 points whereas the Tigers have notched convincing victories over North Florida (83-66), Georgia State (83-65) and Eastern Kentucky (85-64).
A victory would enable Texas Tech to secure the program's first 4-0 start dating back to the 2012-13 season. It also would be head coach Chris Beard 100th win at the NCAA coaching level over five seasons between McMurry (2012-13) Angelo State (2013-15), Little Rock (2015-16) and Texas Tech (2016-17).
"I did get a chance to see Auburn because they obviously played Eastern Kentucky in their last game," Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard said. "I have a lot of respect for Bruce Pearl. I had a chance to spend some time with him this summer at an Under Armour coaches trip. I didn't really know him, but I'd known of his teams and followed his teams at Tennessee. Coach Pearl has a Division II background, which I do as well. I have a lot of pride in where I come from, and I think Coach Pearl says the same things. His teams are always prepared – they're talented, and they play hard. Watching them against Eastern Kentucky – who again I think is really good – they've got our full attention.
The Red Raiders have two of the previous three meetings with Auburn which includes a 46-44 win as part the 2014-15 Big 12/SEC Challenge. Norense Odiase poured in 15 points and added seven rebounds during his freshman season, while Devaugntah Williams drove in and used a spin move for the game-winning layup with two seconds remaining.
About Texas Tech
Texas Tech rates among the Big 12's top three in three-point field goal percentage (48.9 – 1st), field goal percentage (53.6 – 2nd), scoring defense (60.3 – 2nd), free throw percentage (70.4 – 3rd), field goal percentage defense (34.9 – 3rd) and blocked shots (6.0 – 3rd).
The Red Raiders wiped away an early 15-point deficit against Eastern Kentucky en route to a 90-71 victory. Texas Tech dominated the paint and scored 36 of the game's 50 points. Through three games, the Red Raiders have outscored their opponents by a 104-48 margin in paint points.
Texas Tech has four starters averaging in double figures headed by Keenan Evans and Aaron Ross at 14.0 points per game. Ross is the only player to reach double figures in the first three games for the Red Raiders. He is 12-of-21 from the floor and scored a season-high 16 points against Eastern Kentucky.
Evans has started 35 consecutive games at point guard. He scored all 10 of his points during the second half during the Eastern Kentucky game and exploded for a career-high 28 points versus Houston Baptist in the season opener.
Shadell Millinghaus has provided 13.3 points per game on an efficient 14-of-20 shooting clip. Last time out, he turned in a 20-point performance and hit all seven of his shots against Eastern Kentucky. Millinghaus also grabbed seven rebounds and added two assists.
Anthony Livingston has chipped in 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game followed by Zach Smith's 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Smith has racked up eight blocks in his first three games which put him to 100 for his career. He is tied for sixth place in Tech history.
Texas Tech's bench has been sparked by Justin Gray, Niem Stevenson and Devon Thomas. Gray has tallied 9.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He came away with 11 of his season-high 17 points in the second half whereas Thomas posted career-highs with five rebounds, five assists and three steals against Eastern Kentucky.
"We'll have to play well in Cancun," Beard said. "It's a great opportunity for our team. We're not going to lose in Cancun. We're going to either win or we might run out of time, but we're not going to lose. We're going down there to win the trip. We're going to win in team bonding. We're going to win on the scoreboard, hopefully, or run out of time. We're going to win bringing our team together and having a great experience together."
About Auburn
Auburn's 3-0 start is the program's first since the 2011-12 season. Last time out, the Tigers put together a 15-2 run late in the second half to snatch an 85-64 win against Eastern Kentucky.
Auburn has started three freshmen and two sophomores during their first three games led by Danjel Purifoy's 16.3 points and Mustapha Heron's 14.7 points per game, respectively. Both players have pumped in double figures in the team's first three games.
Purifoy tallied 17 of his season's best 19 points during the second half against Georgia State, while Heron sank all eight of his field goal attempts and came away with his first career double-double fueled by 24 points and 10 rebounds versus the Colonels.
Jared Harper has tallied 11.7 points per game followed by Bryce Brown's 10.0 points per game. Auburn has a pair of impressive shot blockers on the interior in Horace Spencer and LaRon Smith. Smith, a graduate transfer from Bethune-Cookman, tied for third nationally in blocks last season.
Up Next
Texas Tech will play either No. 19 Purdue or Utah State in Wednesday's championship or consolation round at the Cancun Challenge. Tipoff is scheduled for either 5 p.m. CT or 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TexasTechMBB and @TexasTechMBB on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
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Center
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