RECAP: No. 25 Red Raiders down Demons

Monday, November 7

Lubbock, Texas

8 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

1-0,0-0Big 12

Northwestern State

0-1,0-0Southland

Northwestern St.

Texas Tech

November 07, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Highlights Press Conference

By: Wes Bloomquist

LUBBOCK, Texas – Daniel Batcho recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to help lead No. 25 Texas Tech to a season-opening 73-49 win over Northwestern State on Monday at a sold-out United Supermarkets Arena.

The Red Raiders (1-0) have now won 22 straight home games, 23 season openers and 16 non-conference home games in a row after a victory where 11 players scored and the team finished by shooting 52.2 percent from the field. Tech limited the Demons to only 28.4-percent shooting and led 42-23 at halftime to ease to the win to begin the season.

"I just wanted to get out of it, you know," said Tech head coach Mark Adams of the season-opening win. "I just wanted to get a W. They're always tough, you know, because we have such high expectations and its always disappointing for the coaching staff, and the coaching staff has to remind me 'hey, don't take the win away', because they did win and they played hard."

Batcho led Tech with his career-high 12 points that came on 4-for-5 shooting from the field and also went 4-for-5 at the free-throw line. A sophomore from France, Batcho also matched De'Vion Harmon and Lamar Washington for the team lead with four assists.

"I'm just trying to be aggressive," Batcho said. "I would say that we did a pretty good job of passing the ball, lobs, and pick and roles. We need to keep doing that. I think we did good, but I think we can do way more as a team. We're going to be way better."

"We've talked a lot about how much he's improved," Adams added about Batcho's performance. "His body keeps getting bigger and stronger and he's gaining more confidence. He had two good scrimmages before this game. He's been one of our most consistent players and you saw that tonight and on both ends of the floor. But we're just really proud of him and his effort."

Kevin Obanor and Kerwin Walton finished the game with nine points each, while Jaylon Tyson had eight points and five rebounds. Tyson, who transferred at midterm last season, had played only eight games at Texas before sitting out the remainder of the season and practicing with the Red Raiders. He would score Tech's first basket, a 3-pointer on the team's second possession to get the season going.

"It was a dream come true for real," Tyson said. "I didn't dream of it being a three or a two. I just dreamed of my first shot being made at Texas Tech. That is going to be something that I will remember for the rest of my life."

Tech finished the game with seven 3-pointers, including two from Tyson and Pop Isaacs who would finish the game with six points and two assists. Obanor, Harmon and Washington had one 3-pointer each. From the free-throw line, Tech finished the night 18-for-22 while Northwestern State was only 1-for-1 in a game where they shot 36 3-pointers. Also making their Tech debuts, D'Maurian Williams and Robert Jennings had six points each and Elijah Fisher scored five.

The Raiders, who were 18-0 at home last season, owned a 28-8 scoring advantage in the paint and overcame 20 turnovers in its first game of the season.

Texas Tech took a 42-23 lead into halftime with nine players having scored in the opening 20 minutes. Obanor led the Red Raiders with nine points, while Batcho had eight points and six rebounds. The Red Raiders were 16-for-24 from the field and 5-for-7 on 3-pointers on offense and had limited the Demons to 9-for-27 (33.3 percent) from the field and just 5-for-16 on 3-pointers. Isaacs was 2-for-2 on 3-pointers in the first half and had six points while Harmon led the team with four assists.

The Red Raiders return to action at 7 p.m. on Thursday against Texas Southern before completing the three-game home stand to begin the season next Monday against Louisiana Tech at the USA.

KEY MOMENTS
First Half

Tech scored its first points of the season on its second possession with a Tyson 3-pointer off a Batcho assist
A pair of 3-pointers by NSU gave them a 6-5 lead and Tech its first deficit of the season
Washington hit a 3-pointer in the corner to tie the game 8-8 going into the first media timeout
Isaacs made his first shot of his career with a 3-pointer to push Tech's lead to 13-8
Tech led 15-8 with a jumper from Walton to push a run to 10-0… Walton was the sixth Red Raider to score in the game just seven minutes in
Isaacs hit his second 3-pointer and gave Tech its first double-digit lead at 20-10 with 11 minutes to play in the half… Tech was on a 15-2 run and 4-for-5 on 3-pointers after the shot
Obanor hit his first 3-pointer of the season to give Tech a 27-15 lead with 6 minutes to play until halftime… Tech was 5-for-7 from beyond the arc and 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) from the field
Batcho had back-to-back baskets to give Tech a 40-20 lead and him eight points and six assists… The 20-point lead came on a 6-0 / 13-3 run with the Red Raiders making 5 of 6 shots

Second Half

Tyson and Harmon hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push Tech's lead to 48-25… Harmon hit a pair of free throws on the next possession for a 50-25 lead
Batcho hit a pair of free throws to be the first Red Raider in double figures… He had 10 points and Tech led 54-28 with 14 minutes to play
Tyson hit a jumper to give him 8 points and Tech a 60-36 lead with 9:17 to play… Isaacs had the assist on the play which gave Tech 16 assists on 20 baskets made at the time