Beard: Excited For Another Day With Senior Class

DALLAS – Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to seniors Keenan Evans, Tommy Hamilton IV, Justin Gray, Niem Stevenson and Zach Smith.

The Red Raiders, who trailed Stephen F. Austin by as much as eight in the second half, rallied to top the Lumberjacks, 70-60, keeping Texas Tech's postseason run alive and ensuring Beard he will coach the quintet for at least one more game.

"I was really proud of that ending," Beard said of Tech's late run to seal its first NCAA Championship win since 2005. "That's something we've been working on for two years. Finish was our motto. Last year when our season ended sooner than any of us would have wanted, we regrouped, and we just decided that the thing has got to be finished because we were so close last year."

Evans sparked the Red Raiders' rally as he scored eight of his game-high 23 points during Tech's 15-5 run to close the game. It was a gutty performance from Evans, who poured in 19 points in the second half alone as part of his 13th game this year with at least 20 points.

For Beard, there's little doubt on what Evans has meant to the Red Raiders this season and him personally. He proved that again against the Lumberjacks (28-7), who limited Evans early before the senior took over in crunch time.

"I just love coaching him," Beard said of Evans. "I just don't want it to end. I want to coach that guy another day."

The good news for Beard is he'll get another chance to coach Evans and his four senior teammates on Saturday when the Red Raiders face No. 23 Florida in the NCAA Round of 32. The Gators topped St. Bonaventure in the nightcap to advance to face Tech for the first time ever in the postseason.

Beard inherited Evans when he took over as Tech's head coach nearly two years ago. Since then, Evans has flourished in an experience Beard likens to a blockbuster movie or even a certain Tex-Mex dish.

"It is like when you go to a good movie and you know it's getting towards the end, but you are loving the movie so much, you want it to go a little bit farther," Beard said of the opportunity to coach Evans. "Or you've got a good plate of enchiladas and you're looking at it, and you only have two bits left, but it's so good, you turn it into three bits."

In addition to Evans, Gray chipped in four points and seven rebounds for a Tech defense that held Stephen F. Austin without a field goal over the final 5:22 of regulation. Smith added nine points of his own to go along with three blocks.

Stevenson, meanwhile, locked down Stephen F. Austin guard Shannon Bogues in the second half, limiting him to just three points in the second half after he poured in 11 over the opening 20 minutes. Stevenson also drew a crucial charge call late in the second half as Tech was making its closing run.

Tech will need a similar performance from its seniors Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. It's just another opportunity for Beard, though, to coach a senior class that he labels nothing short of "special."

"I want it to keep lasting," Beard said. "I'm so glad we get to go back to the hotel, and I get to coach these guys another day. I can't wait until tomorrow to prepare and certainly Saturday for a chance to play again. But guys like Keenan make this job great, and this is all about the players. And we've got good players."

In the second half:

6??-6?? from the field.
6??-6?? from the line.

The closer. #WreckEm #4To1 pic.twitter.com/zaLq2XAhUx
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) March 16, 2018

Texas Tech University Athletics

Beard: Excited For Another Day With Senior Class

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Keenan Evans

Justin Gray

Tommy Hamilton IV

Zach Smith

Niem Stevenson

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