By BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press Writer
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Martin Zeno scored a career high 22 points as Texas Tech beat Nebraska 84-68 on Saturday.
Tech (12-5, 4-2 Big 12) led most of the way and built a 40-26 lead with 16:12 remaining in the game before Nebraska used a 8-0 run in a three-minute span to cut the deficit to 40-34. Tech committed six fouls and a turnover in that same period.
But the Cornhuskers then went cold, missing on five straight shots from the field. An 11-5 Tech run ensued with Zeno getting six of those to give the Red Raiders some breathing room, up by 51-39 with 9:31 remaining.
The Cornhuskers (9-8,3-4) couldn't put together a big enough rally to pull closer than 71-63 with 1:39 remaining after a 3-pointer by Joe McCray and a fast-break basket by Jason Dourisseau.
Both teams had four players in double figures.
Jarrius Jackson scored 18, Devonne Giles had 14 and Ronald Ross had 11 for Tech.
Ross hit on only 3-of-8, or 38 percent, from the field. That's well below the sizzle he's shown in the past seven games. In those games Ross shot 68 percent from 3-point range and 66 percent from the field.
Dourisseau and McCray each scored 12 points, while Jake Muhleisen and Marcus Neal each added 11 for the Cornhuskers.
When Nebraska last came to Lubbock two years ago, Tech coach Bob Knight got his 800th career win in a 75-49 victory. Saturday's win was No. 844 for Knight, who is in his 39th season coaching Division I teams. He needs 36 wins to top North Carolina's Dean Smith, who retired with 879.
Tech led 32-22 at halftime. Jackson got seven points for Tech during a 15-2 run midway through the half to put the Red Raiders up 19-9. They were aided by poor shooting and sloppy play by Nebraska. The Cornhuskers hit on only 8-of-26 for 31 percent. Tech got 14 points off Nebraska's eight turnovers.
