Red Raider Recap: #2 Villanova 71, #14 Tech 59

Sunday, March 25

Boston, Mass.

1:20 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

27-10

No. 2 Villanova

34-4

Texas Tech

No. 2 Villanova

Red Raider Recap: #2 Villanova 71, #14 Tech 59

March 25, 2018 | Men's Basketball

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The Red Raiders finish 2017-18 with a 27-10 record and the program’s first NCAA Elite 8 berth.

BOSTON, Mass. – The No. 14 Texas Tech men's basketball team concluded one of its best seasons in program history and battled No. 2 Villanova to a 71-59 decision during Sunday's NCAA East Regional Final on Sunday at TD Garden.

Points were at a premium in the NCAA Elite 8 matchup as both teams were limited to a 33.3 percent shooting clip. The difference for Villanova (33-4) was a 51-33 rebounding advantage sparked by a season's best 20 offense boards. The Wildcats also converted on 29-of-35 at the free throw line.

The Red Raiders (27-10) were making the program's first appearance in the NCAA Elite 8 round, and the 27 victories were the second-most for Texas Tech only behind the 1995-96 squad which finished 30-2 and earned a spot in the NCAA Sweet 16.

The win enables Villanova (34-4) to advance to the program's second NCAA Final Four in the last three seasons. The 2016 NCAA Champions will take on Kansas in Saturday's semifinal round.

"Just want to congratulate Villanova on a tough, hard-fought game and wish them the best at the Final Four," Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard said. "In preparation, we knew they were a great three-point shooting team and talented players, but we also knew how tough they were. We knew the identity of their team was the toughness and physicality, and that proved to be true."

"I just want to recognize our team," Beard continued. "I'm just so appreciative of our seniors during the coaching change and sticking with us. To almost get to that final weekend, I think, speaks a lot about those guys and their character. Proud of our five seniors. Then, I told our young guys that we'll do everything we can in the next 364 days to be back here."

The Red Raiders will say to goodbye to five seniors which include Keenan Evans, Justin Gray and Zach Smith who were a part of two NCAA Tournament teams and 77 victories over their four-year careers.

Evans worked his way to 12 points, four assists and two steals. He piled up 1,571 career points which ranks 13th on Texas Tech's all-time list and distributed 346 career assists which checks in at No. 8 in program history.

Zach Smith capped his career with 1,033 career points, 697 career rebounds and 158 career blocks. The 158 rejections were second in program history only behind Tony Battie whereas the 693 career rebounds were good enough for 11th place in the program record book.

Gray hauled down a team-leading nine rebounds. He finished his career with 844 points, 468 rebounds and connected for 50.6 percent of his shots.
Niem Stevenson and Tommy Hamilton IV also played major roles as part of Texas Tech's five-member senior class. Hamilton IV went past 1,000 career points after he played his first three seasons at DePaul, while Stevenson picked up 535 points, 228 rebounds and 114 assists in his two seasons with the Red Raiders.

Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith completed a pair of memorable freshmen seasons where they finished 1-2 in the program's freshmen scoring list. Culver came away with 11 points followed by Zhaire Smith's seven points and seven rebounds.

As a team, Texas Tech was 20-of-60 from the floor which included a 5-of-20 clip from three-point territory. The Red Raiders 14-of-18 on free throws and held a 23-16 edge in bench points.

Villanova turned in a 19-for-57 shooting performance and was limited to a 4-for-24 mark on treys. The Wildcats made the most of a 29-for-35 rate at the charity stripe. Five players notched double figures headed by Jalen Brunson's 15 points, six rebounds and four assists. Eric Paschall pumped in 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo registered 12 points and eight rebounds.

Texas Tech knocked down three of its first four shot attempts and fired out to a 9-1 advantage during the opening 3:03 off the clock.

Zhaire Smith struck for the opening five points off on offensive putback and a triple at the top of the key. After Norense Odiase added two free throws, Evans connected with Tommy Hamilton IV for a layup.

Villanova found its groove and responded with a 20-6 run over the next 6:52 to turn the eight-point deficit into a six-point edge. The Wildcats took a 21-15 edge on a Bridges slam with 9:41 to go.

Villanova kept up its strong defense and forced the Red Raiders into a 3-for-14 shooting clip over the closing 10:48 of the opening stanza. The Wildcats also converted on 14-of-19 at the foul line and built a 36-23 lead into the locker room.

The 23 points scored were the lowest point total for the Red Raiders in a half on the season whereas the 13-point intermission deficit matched Texas Tech's largest of the season.

The Red Raiders fought back and got the margin within five points on three occasions. At 52-47 with 6:06 remaining, Texas Tech got a defensive stop and had a chance to score. However, Zhaire Smith's driving layup attempt was blocked and passed out to Villanova's Phil Booth for a transition layup.

Keenan Evans drained a pair of free throws to make it 54-49 with 4:58 left. On the ensuing possession, the Red Raiders were poised to get another defensive stop. The Wildcats crashed the glass, and DiVincenzo got loose for a two-handed dunk putback.

Villanova was perfect down the stretch and hit on all 10 of its free throw attempts inside the last 2:57 off the clock to lock up the 12-point decision.

"I just can't state this enough as somebody that's looked up to Coach (Wright) and watched Villanova basketball," Beard said. "You think it's their three-point shooting, their small ball, their athleticism, but by far, their identity is their toughness. It's one of the toughest teams we played this year. They outrebounded us by 20. I thought they demanded fouls on their end, and we just didn't get to the free throw line as much as we need to. Ultimately, we're a no-excuse program. We'll just have to go back and use this to help us coach better in the future. But the story of today's game is Villanova and their toughness. I think that's their identity."

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 by liking TexasTechMBB on Facebook along with following @TexasTechMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

POSTGAME NOTES

Texas Tech's historic season came to an end as the Villanova Wildcats defeated Texas Tech, 71-59, in the NCAA Elite Eight.
With the loss, Texas Tech is now 11-17 all-time in NCAA Championship games.
Texas Tech is now 0-1 all-time against Villanova. This meeting was the first between the two schools. Tech is 2-14 against opponents from the Big East.
Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard now has a 4-2 career record in NCAA Championship games. This is the furthest Beard has led a team in the postseason.
The Red Raiders' 27 wins are the most in school history.
With seven points today, Zhaire Smith recorded 417 points on the season which is the most points by a freshman in Texas Tech history.
Keenan Evans led the team with 12 points today, marking a team-best 31^st game in double-figures. It also marked the seventh straight game in double digits for the senior.