Red Raider Preview: Texas

Wednesday, March 1

United Supermarkets Arena

8:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

Texas

Buy Tickets

February 28, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Game30TexasFullNotes

The Red Raiders will have won their last three games on Senior Night.

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech men's basketball team heads into the final week of the regular season and takes its turn to honor its five-member Senior Class as Texas visits the United Supermarkets Arena on Wednesday.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT televised by ESPN2 along with www.WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. Mark Neely and Fran Fraschilla will serve as the announcing team.

The Texas Tech Sports Network will carry the game live on its flagship stations 100.7 FM and 950 AM in Lubbock. Geoff Haxton and Chris Level 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. Fans can interact live with Wednesday's broadcast @GunsUpRadio on Twitter.

The Red Raiders (17-12, 5-11 Big 12) sit in sole possession of eighth place in the Big 12 standings but can trail Kansas State and TCU by one game. Texas Tech has won 15 of its 18 games at home this season and earned victories in its last three decisions on Senior Night.

Texas (10-19, 4-12 Big 12) has dropped its last five games, most recently a 77-67 decision to then No. 3 Kansas on Saturday. Like the Red Raiders, the Longhorns have had their fair share of close calls with 14 of their 29 games decided by five points or less.

Texas has won 39 of the 45 meetings between the two programs as Big 12 members. However, the Red Raiders will look for a regular season split for the third time over the last four seasons.

Texas Tech's Senior Night ceremony will begin at 7:45 p.m. CT. The Red Raiders will celebrate Thomas Brandsma, Anthony Livingston, Aaron Ross Devon Thomas and Matthew Temple.

"I think the common trait of all five guys is unselfishness," Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard said. "Each of them is playing a different role than they have played in the past. Each of them has been asked to do different things on and off the floor. Through good times and through times of struggle, they've really maintained to be the same kind of people and the same kind of leaders. All five are unselfish people. To me, they are guys that are going to be successful after basketball. A couple of them will have a chance to play after basketball for money (professionally), but I have no doubt that when you look them up in five, 10 or 15 years that all five are going to be successful people. They are going to be good fathers and good husbands, and a lot of it comes from traits that they are unselfish people by nature."

Fans can purchase tickets to Wednesday's game for as low as $15 online at www.TexasTech.com or in person at the United Supermarkets Arena Box Office which opens 90 minutes prior to tipoff.

Texas Tech is offering enhancements for the remainder of the season to better serve its fans. The S1 Parking Lot at the John Walker Soccer Complex will be open for free parking for all fans. Texas Tech also will provide a free shuttle beginning 75 minutes prior to tipoff and 60 minutes following the game to transport fans to and from the United Supermarkets Arena.

Fans are reminded to go clear at all Texas Tech basketball games. The clear bag policy provides a safer atmosphere and speeds up the entry process into the United Supermarkets Arena.

About Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have already clinched back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 2006-07 and 2007-08 campaigns.

Keenan Evans has registered 17 consecutive games in double figures and pumped in 17.2 points per game in Big 12 action which is fourth on the Big 12 leaderboard. The 17.2 points and fourth place ranking are the highest for a Texas Tech player in conference play since Jarrius Jackson in 2006-07. Evans is rated among the Big 12's Top 11 in three-point percentage (44.4 – 2nd), free throw percentage (84.2 – 3rd) and field goal percentage (47.6 – 11th).

Zach Smith has turned in 10 or more points in 12 of his last 16 games. In addition to his 12.8 points per game, Smith has provided 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Both feats are fifth on the Big 12 leaderboard. He has amassed 133 career blocks which is second on Texas Tech's all-time list only behind Tony Battie at 162 stuffs.

Anthony Livingston and Aaron Ross have chipped 10.1 points and 9.3 points per game, respectively. Ross has started the last two games and all seven starts over his 108 career appearances have come during his redshirt senior season. He has garnered 33 career games in double figures. Livingston has knocked down 49 of his 102 field goals on three-balls. He will look to return to double figures for the first time since a 14-point effort at TCU on Feb. 7.

Justin Gray has found his rhythm with 9.0 rebounds, 5.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. He has pumped in 10-plus points in three of his last five outings. Gray notched his third double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds during the Oklahoma State game. He has managed 17 of his 31 games in double figures versus Big 12 opponents.

Niem Stevenson has been inserted into the starting lineup during Teas Tech's last six games. He has jumped his scoring mark to 14.4 points per game and connected on 16 of his 26 three's over the last nine games. Stevenson has managed double figures in five straight games and seven of his last eight outings which included consecutive 17-point efforts during the West Virginia and Iowa State games.

Thomas Brandsma, Shadell Millinghaus, Devon Thomas and Matthew Temple round out the 10-man playing rotation for Texas Tech. Millinghaus logged his first extended action in Big 12 play with seven points and seven rebounds over 30 minutes of court time at Oklahoma State.

Texas Tech has played 26 of its 29 games this season which includes its last 124 games without Norense Odiase who picked up 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game last season.

About Texas
The Longhorns have been fueled by Jarrett Allen's 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Over his last 13 games which includes five matchups with AP Top 25 opponents, Allen has boosted his marks to 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He has connected on 59.3 percent from the floor. He posted his 11th double-double on the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds during Saturday's game versus Kansas.

Andrew Jones has registered double figures in 12 of his last 13 contests en route to 13.8 points, 4.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He tallied a season's best 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting during the Kansas game. Jones has knocked down 24 of his team-leading 37 triples against Big 12 opponents.

Kerwin Roach, Jr. has chipped in 10.1 points per game coupled with a team-leading 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He has secured 10-plus points in three of his last five outings. Shaquille Cleare has dialed up 8.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He has garnered eight of his 11 games with double digit points against Big 12 opponents. Cleare has connected 52.6 percent of his shots in league play.

"I think they just have great players and a great coach that puts his players in positions to be successful," Beard said. "Their returning players have gotten better, and their freshmen have gotten better. I think they're a real scary team to play this time of year. I also know no one is looking forward to drawing them in Kansas City next week."

Up Next
Texas Tech will play its third straight weekend road game and concludes the regular season a trip to Kansas State on Saturday. Tipoff is on-tap for 12 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by ESPNEWS along with being available on www.WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.

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.