Texas Tech Hands Little Rock First Loss

LUBBOCK, Texas – Little Rock led with under 12 minutes to play in the second half, but ultimately fell short Tuesday in a 65-53 loss at Texas Tech (9-1) in United Supermarkets Arena. The loss is the first of the season for the Trojans (10-1), who resume play when conference action begins on Dec. 30 at South Alabama.
 
"We have a lot of respect for coach Smith's program and Texas Tech, so we knew it was going to be a tough challenge today," head coach Chris Beard said after the game. "I thought our guys competed. It got away from us a little bit late; our guys missed the front ends of two 1-and-1's and we had a turnover in three straight trips, and that hurt us. Give Texas Tech all the credit. They played well tonight."
 
The Trojans entered Tuesday's game as one of the six remaining unbeaten teams in the country. The 10-game win streak matched a program record, and was the best start to a season of any program in Sun Belt Conference history.
 
Despite a slow start, the Trojans found themselves down four at the break. Little Rock's defense limited Tech's offense to 5-of-19 shooting to close the half.
 
Trailing 41-35 with 15:18 to play in the second half, Little Rock used a 7-0 run to go up 42-41 on Jalen Jackson's free throw with 11:37 remaining. Texas Tech answered by scoring the next four points as part of a larger 9-2 run to go up 50-44, and Little Rock was unable to pull closer than three the rest of the way.
 
Marcus Johnson Jr. (14) and Josh Hagins (14) both finished in double figures for the Trojans, who shot 39.6 percent as a team. Little Rock turned it over 14 times – its most of the season with the exception of its opener vs. Central Baptist – and made just 10 of 15 shots at the foul line, including 4 of 8 in the second half.
 
Texas Tech finished the game shooting 42.9 percent, including a hot start that saw the Red Raiders make 8 of 9 shots to start the game. Zach Smith finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Red Raiders started hot, hitting 8 of 9 shots from the floor to start and building a 19-8 lead less than five minutes into the game. Little Rock made its push shortly thereafter. The Trojans used an 8-2 run to get the margin to five. After two free throws by Tech's Norense Odiase, Little Rock scored the next five to pull within two.
 
Hagins' 3-pointer tied the game at 26-all with just over five minutes to go in the half. The Trojans built a 28-26 lead on Johnson's layup just 17 seconds later, and after Tech tied the game on a Matthew Temple Basket, a 3-pointer by Johnson gave the Trojans a 31-28 advantage.
 
Little Rock would not score over the final 3:36 of the half, however, as Texas Tech closed the frame on a 7-0 run to take a 35-31 lead into the locker room.
 
The Trojans return to action on Dec. 30 at South Alabama before taking on Troy Jan. 2. Little Rock's next home game is Jan. 7 when the Trojans host preseason Sun Belt favorite Louisiana.