National runner-up Texas Tech opens with 85-60 victory
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) Another graduate transfer and some freshmen helped get No. 13 Texas Tech off to a solid start in the new season, seven months after the Red Raiders played in the national championship game.
Freshman Jahmi'us Ramsey scored 19 points and graduate transfer TJ Holyfield added 15 on 7-of-8 shooting as the much-changed Red Raiders beat Eastern Illinois 85-60 on Tuesday night.
''Everyone's playing together in our offense so that helped me score,'' Holyfield said. ''The way we work all together ... on offense is easy for us to get easy basket sometimes.''
Davide Moretti, the only returning starter from last season's team that lost in overtime to Virginia in the title game, had 13 points. Terrence Shannon Jr, another freshman, had 11 points.
''I was impressed with the guys' preparation this week. Dialed in ... to have the emotion there at the start of the game, great crowd,'' coach Chris Beard said. ''First Division I game for a lot of guys, then put on top of that the two banners and the videos and all of this and it's hard to do. But I thought there was a calmness to us early. It was really impressive.''
George Dixon had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead Eastern Illinois, a team from the Ohio Valley Conference that was 14-18 last season.
Texas Tech led throughout, jumping out to a 9-2 run in the first 3 minutes before a sold out crowd. It was 46-31 at halftime on way to Tech's 48th consecutive non-conference home victory.
The Red Raiders claimed a share of the Big 12 title last season and won 31 games before that loss to Virginia. Four of their top five scorers from that squad are gone, including 2018-19 grad transfers Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens, along with hometown guard and Big 12 player of the year Jarrett Culver leaving after only two seasons for early entry into the NBA draft.
Holyfield, a 6-foot-8 forward, played against the Red Raiders in the first round of the tournament in Dallas two years ago. He redshirted last year at Stephen F. Austin because of injuries.
Ramsey, coming off a Class 6A state title at Dallas-area power Duncanville last season, is among seven freshmen.
''Pressure's a blessing. Pressure is why you play at this level. It's why you coach at this level and why you support a team at this level,'' Beard said. ''I think these freshmen understand they have an opportunity. There's no pressure on this team. Three returners, 10 new players. We're a work in progress. We have our own expectations internally that's so much more than what anybody could put on us. I just keep talking to these guys about opportunity versus pressure and I thought they did a good job tonight embracing it.''
BIG PICTURE
Eastern Illinois: The challenge was tough for the Panthers but the sometimes slim margin showed how they're among the oldest teams in the NCAA.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders returned only three members from last year's national title runner-up team but didn't miss a beat in the opener.
QUOTABLE
''This is a new season. Every season is different. Sometimes even if the same players come back it's a new season. I'll never get tired of hearing about the past teams but it's a new season. It really is.'' - Beard
NEWCOMER DOWN
Beard said freshman forward Tyreek Smith will miss at least a couple of weeks with an injury he suffered in practice. Smith played at Trinity Christian in Louisiana, where he averaged 17.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and three blocks as a senior.
MORE THAN VICTORY BELLS
Beard promised a Texas Tech couple that he would attend their upcoming summer wedding if the students showed up for the season opener. He quickly lost the bet as the student attendance accounted for 4,866 of the sellout crowd of 15,098.
UP NEXT
Eastern Illinois is on the road to play another major college team, Friday night at Wisconsin.
Texas Tech, which plays four of its first five games at its home arena, is there Saturday to play Bethune-Cookman.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
0.0 | End of period | |||
19:20 | Personal foul on Terrence Shannon Jr. | |||
19:09 | Offensive foul on George Dixon | |||
18:35 | Shooting foul on Jordan Skipper-Brown | |||
18:10 | Shooting foul on JaQualis Matlock | |||
17:51 | Personal foul on Kyler Edwards | |||
17:18 | Shooting foul on Deang Deang | |||
16:50 | Shooting foul on Braxton Shaw | |||
16:43 | Shooting foul on Davide Moretti | |||
15:36 | +2 | Jordan Skipper-Brown made dunk | 9-13 | |
15:19 | Personal foul on Marvin Johnson | |||
15:10 | Personal foul on Shareef Smith | |||
14:49 | Offensive foul on Josiah Wallace | |||
13:21 | +2 | Deang Deang made jump shot | 11-15 | |
12:17 | Shooting foul on Jahmi'us Ramsey | |||
11:42 | +2 | Terrence Shannon Jr. made layup | 14-20 | |
10:59 | Terrence Shannon Jr. missed layup, blocked by JaQualis Matlock | |||
10:57 | Defensive rebound by JaQualis Matlock | |||
10:51 | Offensive foul on Marvin Johnson | |||
10:51 | Turnover on Marvin Johnson | |||
10:38 | Jahmi'us Ramsey missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:36 | Defensive rebound by Shareef Smith | |||
10:18 | +3 | Mack Smith made 3-pt. jump shot | 17-20 | |
10:08 | +2 | Jahmi'us Ramsey made jump shot | 17-22 | |
9:47 | Josiah Wallace missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:45 | Defensive rebound by Kyler Edwards | |||
9:34 | +2 | TJ Holyfield made layup, assist by Kyler Edwards | 17-24 | |
9:06 | JaQualis Matlock missed layup, blocked by TJ Holyfield | |||
9:04 | Defensive rebound by Kyler Edwards | |||
8:59 | Terrence Shannon Jr. missed jump shot | |||
8:55 | Defensive rebound by Eastern Illinois | |||
8:42 | +3 | Shareef Smith made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josiah Wallace | 20-24 | |
8:22 | +3 | Avery Benson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jahmi'us Ramsey | 20-27 | |
8:03 | Bad pass turnover on Josiah Wallace, stolen by Davide Moretti | |||
7:56 | +2 | Jahmi'us Ramsey made layup | 20-29 | |
7:39 | Mack Smith missed layup | |||
7:37 | Defensive rebound by Russel Tchewa | |||
7:25 | +3 | Jahmi'us Ramsey made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Russel Tchewa | 20-32 | |
6:58 | +2 | Dondre Duffus made layup | 22-32 | |
6:42 | Bad pass turnover on Chris Clarke | |||
6:18 | Personal foul on Davide Moretti | |||
5:58 | Jordan Skipper-Brown missed layup | |||
5:56 | Offensive rebound by George Dixon | |||
5:49 | Jordan Skipper-Brown missed layup, blocked by Jahmi'us Ramsey | |||
5:47 | Offensive rebound by George Dixon | |||
5:47 | +2 | George Dixon made layup | 24-32 | |
5:43 | Offensive foul on Kyler Edwards | |||
5:43 | Turnover on Kyler Edwards | |||
5:27 | Mack Smith missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:25 | Defensive rebound by Jahmi'us Ramsey | |||
5:18 | +2 | TJ Holyfield made layup | 24-34 | |
5:18 | Shooting foul on Jordan Skipper-Brown | |||
5:18 | TJ Holyfield missed free throw | |||
5:18 | Defensive rebound by Mack Smith | |||
4:55 | Josiah Wallace missed layup | |||
4:53 | Offensive rebound by George Dixon | |||
4:42 | +2 | Mack Smith made jump shot | 26-34 | |
4:32 | Shooting foul on JaQualis Matlock | |||
4:32 | +1 | Terrence Shannon Jr. made 1st of 2 free throws | 26-35 | |
4:32 | +1 | Terrence Shannon Jr. made 2nd of 2 free throws | 26-36 | |
4:04 | Josiah Wallace missed jump shot | |||
4:02 | Defensive rebound by TJ Holyfield | |||
3:55 | +3 | TJ Holyfield made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kyler Edwards | 26-39 | |
3:43 | Mack Smith missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:41 | Defensive rebound by Jahmi'us Ramsey | |||
3:36 | +2 | Terrence Shannon Jr. made dunk | 26-41 | |
3:03 | Shot clock violation turnover on Eastern Illinois | |||
2:50 | Chris Clarke missed layup | |||
2:48 | Defensive rebound by George Dixon | |||
2:35 | Bad pass turnover on Braxton Shaw | |||
2:20 | Jahmi'us Ramsey missed layup | |||
2:18 | Defensive rebound by George Dixon | |||
2:05 | Mack Smith missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:03 | Defensive rebound by Andrei Savrasov | |||
1:55 | +3 | Jahmi'us Ramsey made 3-pt. jump shot | 26-44 | |
1:48 | Personal foul on Kevin McCullar | |||
1:48 | +1 | Deang Deang made 1st of 2 free throws | 27-44 | |
1:48 | +1 | Deang Deang made 2nd of 2 free throws | 28-44 | |
1:25 | Andrei Savrasov missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:23 | Defensive rebound by George Dixon | |||
1:13 | Bad pass turnover on Marvin Johnson, stolen by Jahmi'us Ramsey | |||
1:07 | +2 | Clarence Nadolny made dunk | 28-46 | |
52.0 | +2 | Josiah Wallace made jump shot | 30-46 | |
31.0 | Kevin McCullar missed layup | |||
29.0 | Defensive rebound by George Dixon | |||
2.0 | Shooting foul on Kevin McCullar | |||
2.0 | +1 | Jordan Skipper-Brown made 1st of 2 free throws | 31-46 |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Lost ball turnover on Mack Smith | |||
19:49 | Personal foul on Mack Smith | |||
19:30 | Lost ball turnover on Jordan Skipper-Brown | |||
19:26 | Davide Moretti missed layup | |||
19:24 | Defensive rebound by Josiah Wallace | |||
19:07 | +3 | Mack Smith made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by George Dixon | 34-46 | |
18:53 | Personal foul on Marvin Johnson | |||
18:43 | Kyler Edwards missed jump shot | |||
18:38 | Offensive rebound by Texas Tech | |||
18:38 | Bad pass turnover on Terrence Shannon Jr. | |||
18:18 | Shooting foul on TJ Holyfield | |||
18:18 | Deang Deang missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
18:18 | Deang Deang missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
18:18 | Eastern Illinois missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
18:03 | Offensive rebound by Eastern Illinois | |||
18:03 | +3 | Davide Moretti made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Clarence Nadolny | 34-49 | |
17:46 | Marvin Johnson missed jump shot | |||
17:44 | Defensive rebound by Davide Moretti | |||
17:14 | +2 | TJ Holyfield made jump shot, assist by Davide Moretti | 34-51 | |
17:02 | Jumpball received by Texas Tech | |||
17:02 | Lost ball turnover on JaQualis Matlock, stolen by TJ Holyfield | |||
16:38 | Personal foul on Jordan Skipper-Brown | |||
16:38 | +2 | Davide Moretti made jump shot, assist by Chris Clarke | 34-53 | |
16:23 | George Dixon missed layup | |||
16:21 | Defensive rebound by TJ Holyfield | |||
15:58 | +2 | TJ Holyfield made layup | 34-55 | |
15:51 | +2 | George Dixon made layup, assist by Deang Deang | 36-55 | |
15:32 | +2 | Jahmi'us Ramsey made layup | 36-57 | |
15:23 | +2 | Marvin Johnson made jump shot, assist by Deang Deang | 38-57 | |
15:09 | Lost ball turnover on Davide Moretti | |||
14:53 | Marvin Johnson missed jump shot | |||
14:25 | Russel Tchewa missed hook shot | |||
14:19 | Mack Smith missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
14:11 | JaQualis Matlock missed layup | |||
14:02 | Terrence Shannon Jr. missed jump shot | |||
13:54 | Marvin Johnson missed layup, blocked by Kyler Edwards | |||
13:52 | Marvin Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
13:50 | +3 | Davide Moretti made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jahmi'us Ramsey | 38-60 | |
13:17 | Deang Deang missed jump shot | |||
13:07 | +2 | Russel Tchewa made hook shot | 38-62 | |
13:07 | Shooting foul on JaQualis Matlock | |||
13:09 | Russel Tchewa missed free throw | |||
12:48 | Personal foul on Avery Benson | |||
12:37 | Offensive foul on JaQualis Matlock | |||
12:27 | Shooting foul on Dondre Duffus | |||
12:27 | +1 | Kyler Edwards made 1st of 2 free throws | 38-63 | |
12:27 | +1 | Kyler Edwards made 2nd of 2 free throws | 38-64 | |
12:06 | +2 | Jordan Skipper-Brown made layup, assist by Braxton Shaw | 40-64 | |
11:42 | Offensive foul on Terrence Shannon Jr. | |||
11:26 | Dondre Duffus missed layup | |||
11:03 | Marvin Johnson missed layup | |||
10:48 | +2 | Kyler Edwards made layup | 40-66 |
Min. Per Game | ||
Pts. Per Game | ||
Ast. Per Game | ||
Reb. Per Game | ||
Field Goal % | ||
Three Point % | ||
Free Throw % |
+ 2 | Kyler Edwards made layup | 10:48 |
Marvin Johnson missed layup | 11:03 |
Dondre Duffus missed layup | 11:26 |
Offensive foul on Terrence Shannon Jr. | 11:42 |
+ 2 | Jordan Skipper-Brown made layup, assist by Braxton Shaw | 12:06 |
+ 1 | Kyler Edwards made 2nd of 2 free throws | 12:27 |
+ 1 | Kyler Edwards made 1st of 2 free throws | 12:27 |
Shooting foul on Dondre Duffus | 12:27 |
Offensive foul on JaQualis Matlock | 12:37 |
Personal foul on Avery Benson | 12:48 |
Russel Tchewa missed free throw | 13:09 |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Points | 0 | 0 |
Field Goals | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) |
3-Pointers | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) |
Free Throws | 0-0 (0.0%) | 0-0 (0.0%) |
Total Rebounds | 0 | 0 |
Offensive | 0 | 0 |
Defensive | 0 | 0 |
Team | 0 | 0 |
Assists | 0 | 0 |
Steals | 0 | 0 |
Blocks | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fouls | 0 | 0 |
Technicals | 0 | 0 |
|
Team Stats | |||
---|---|---|---|
E. Illinois 0-1 | 74.3 PPG | 38.9 RPG | 14.1 APG |
13 Texas Tech 1-0 | 71.9 PPG | 36.4 RPG | 15.1 APG |
Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |