Red Raider Recap: Auburn 67, Tech 65

Tuesday, November 22

Cancun, Mexico

5:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

3-1

Auburn

4-0

Auburn

Texas Tech

November 22, 2016 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Game4TexasTech-Auburn

Texas Tech nearly erased a 19-point second half deficit against Auburn at the Cancun Challenge.

CANCUN, Mexico – The Texas Tech men's basketball team had an opportunity in the closing seconds after facing a 19-point deficit early during the second half, but Auburn held on for a 67-65 decision Tuesday in the semifinal round of the Cancun Challenge in Mexico.

The Red Raiders (3-1) had their three-game winning streak snapped to start the season. Texas Tech will face Utah State, who were handed an 85-64 setback by No. 19 Purdue, in Wednesday's consolation game. Tip time is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT from Mexico.

"The first half was too much to overcome," Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard said. "I liked our fight in the second half. We ran out of time in the second half. Give Auburn credit. They played a really good first half, and that's what won it for them."

Trailing 67-65, Aaron Ross drove the left elbow for the game-tying field goal attempt which was blocked by Auburn's LaRon Smith. The ball squired to Zach Smith, but his 25-foot attempt sailed long as the buzzer sounded.

Ross pumped in a season's best scoring effort for a second straight game and finished with 12 of his team-leading 17 points during the second 20 minutes. He was 6-of-11 from the floor and grabbed five rebounds.

Smith collected his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Keenan Evans came away with 13 points and two assists from the point guard position.

Off the bench, Devon Thomas racked up a career-high 11 points in the second half sparked by a spotless 4-of-4 shooting performance. Justin Gray tallied a solid all-around effort with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals before he fouled out.

Shadell Millinghaus and Anthony Livingston were bottled up for a combined five points and misfired on 12 of their 14 shot attempts.

Texas Tech compiled a 23-of-56 shooting clip which included a 5-of-19 mark from three-point territory. The Red Raiders knocked down 14-of-17 at the free throw line.

Auburn also finished 23-for-56 from the floor and converted on 8-for-26 in three-pointers. The Tigers were 13-for-20 from the charity stripe.

Auburn had a trio of players in double figures led by Mustapha Heron's 15 points followed by Danjel Purifoy's 11 points and six rebounds.

The Red Raiders were behind for a majority of the contest and faced a 42-23 hole at the 16:18 mark of the second half after a span of 15 consecutive misses over a 12-plus minute span.

Texas Tech found its rhythm and began to chip away. The Red Raiders got back to single digits, 53-45 with 7:52 remaining, when Ross found Smith on the baseline for a one-handed windmill slam dunk.

Auburn stretched its advantage back to 61-49 courtesy of a Heron trey with 5:55 left. Evans ignited Texas Tech's final flurry with two free throws. Then, Evans drove and dished to Gray for a layup. He connected with a Ross for a trail three-pointer at the top of the key on the delayed fastbreak to make it 62-56 with 4:17 to go.

The margin remained at six points with 1:18 on the clock. Evans buried a runner in the lane off glass before Thomas added layups sandwiched around a free throw from Auburn's Jared Harper to trim the Red Raiders deficit down to 66-65 with 17 seconds.

Harper would once again split free throws four seconds later to put Auburn ahead 67-65 leading into the final sequence that ended with Smith heaving up a desperation three-pointer after Ross' game-tying attempt was blocked.

The Tigers build a 38-23 halftime lead on the strength of a 15-4 finishing kick over the closing 8:06. Auburn limited the Red Raiders without a basket and scored 19 of the game's first 20 points off turnovers and on second-chance opportunities.

Texas Tech was forced into a season-high 17 turnovers which enabled the Tigers to possess a 23-5 margin in points off turnovers.

"We just started attacking more on offense," Beard said. "It was a balance between having patience and attacking. Our Achilles heel was the 17 turnovers. Three of our best players had high turnover games. Against an SEC team like Auburn, that's just too much to overcome."

Texas Tech will look to regroup versus Utah State in Wednesday's consolation matchup. Tipoff is on-tap for 5 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 and Instagram.