Isaacs scores 20 as Texas Tech hits from deep to beat No. 11 Baylor in regular-season finale
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) Pop Isaacs scored 20 points, including the first of Texas Tech's four consecutive 3-pointers after No. 11 Baylor had taken its only lead after halftime, and the Red Raiders won their regular-season finale 78-68 on Saturday night.
The Red Raiders (22-9, 11-7 Big 12) had missed their first five 3s of the second half before Issacs connected with 7:03 left for a 56-54 lead. RayJ Dennis then made a tying layup for Baylor before Tech scored 11 points in a row, going ahead on a 3 by Darrion Williams that was the first of three long-range shots in just over a minute.
“We had some pretty decent looks, but just finally just broke the game open with getting stops and playing in transition,” Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland said. “And that’s been the mark of our team - when we make 3s in transition, we’re really tough to defend. So just thrilled the way the game finished.”
Williams had 16 points and 11 rebounds for his ninth double-double this season, even while playing most of the second half with four fouls as Isaacs did. Chance McMillian finished with 11 points off the bench.
Ja'Kobe Walter had 15 points for Baylor (22-9, 11-7), while Jayden Nunn scored 14 and Dennis added 12.
Both teams were already guaranteed top-four finishes in the Big 12 standings, so they get double-byes into the quarterfinal round of next week's conference tournament. Baylor will be the No. 3 seed in Kansas City, Missouri, while Texas Tech will be the No. 4 seed.
Walter's 3-pointer with 7:25 left was part of a 16-4 run that put the Bears ahead 54-53. But then Texas Tech made six field goals in a row, including consecutive transition 3s by Kerwin Walton.
“We did a great job coming back,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “Really credit Texas Tech for making some big shots.”
Baylor's only other lead was 2-0 after Walter made the first shot of the game. The Red Raiders then scored 16 points in a row, nine by Isaacs.
BIG PICTURE
Baylor: The Bears were trying for another big comeback, having trailed by 16 points with 16 minutes left. They beat Texas 93-85 on Monday night after trailing by 14, their biggest comeback win of the season. They also erased a 16-point halftime deficit against No. 1 Houston before falling in overtime.
“When you come out flat, the other team is going to make a run," Walter said. “That’s happened to us multiple times, but we’ve always fought back.”
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders finished 15-2 at home in McCasland's first season. They are 6-4 against Top 25 teams, and only Kansas has more such wins in the Big 12.
LOVE IS BACK
Baylor sophomore guard Langston Love returned after missing four games in a row, and seven of eight, because of an ankle injury. He had nine points and five rebounds while playing 22 minutes. Love made his first four field goal attempts, but missed the last three.
UNEXPECTED BOARDS
Texas Tech dominated on the glass, finishing with a 40-29 rebounding advantage. The Bears didn't have an offensive rebound before halftime, but did have seven after that.
“Really credit Tech for doing a great job blocking out,” Drew said. “I don’t know when the last time we had zero offensive rebounds in a half (was). I mean, I don’t know if it’s ever happened.”
UP NEXT
The Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, with Baylor and Texas Tech both playing in the quarterfinal round Thursday against opponents to be determined.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Yves Missi vs. Robert Jennings (Bears gains possession) | |||
19:38 | +2 | Ja'Kobe Walter makes two point jump shot | 2-0 | |
19:22 | +2 | Pop Isaacs makes two point layup | 2-2 | |
18:54 | RayJ Dennis misses three point jump shot | |||
18:52 | Darrion Williams defensive rebound | |||
18:36 | Darrion Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
18:34 | RayJ Dennis defensive rebound | |||
18:28 | Ja'Kobe Walter misses three point jump shot | |||
18:26 | Darrion Williams defensive rebound | |||
18:07 | Yves Missi shooting foul (Pop Isaacs draws the foul) | |||
18:07 | +1 | Pop Isaacs makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-3 | |
18:07 | +1 | Pop Isaacs makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-4 | |
17:39 | Jalen Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
17:37 | Bears offensive rebound | |||
17:36 | Bears turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
17:28 | +2 | Joe Toussaint makes two point layup | 2-6 | |
17:13 | RayJ Dennis turnover (lost ball) | |||
17:12 | Bears 30 second timeout | |||
17:07 | +2 | Joe Toussaint makes two point jump shot | 2-8 | |
16:35 | Ja'Kobe Walter misses two point jump shot | |||
16:33 | Joe Toussaint defensive rebound | |||
16:16 | Pop Isaacs misses three point jump shot | |||
16:14 | Darrion Williams offensive rebound | |||
16:10 | Joe Toussaint misses three point jump shot | |||
16:08 | Robert Jennings offensive rebound | |||
16:08 | +2 | Robert Jennings makes two point layup | 2-10 | |
16:08 | Josh Ojianwuna shooting foul (Robert Jennings draws the foul) | |||
16:08 | +1 | Robert Jennings makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 2-11 | |
15:55 | RayJ Dennis misses two point jump shot | |||
15:53 | Pop Isaacs defensive rebound | |||
15:44 | +2 | Pop Isaacs makes two point jump shot | 2-13 | |
15:36 | Bears 30 second timeout | |||
15:36 | TV timeout | |||
15:25 | RayJ Dennis turnover (bad pass) (Robert Jennings steals) | |||
15:23 | Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua personal foul (Robert Jennings draws the foul) | |||
15:13 | Pop Isaacs misses two point layup | |||
15:11 | Robert Jennings offensive rebound | |||
14:59 | Joe Toussaint misses two point jump shot | |||
14:57 | Robert Jennings offensive rebound | |||
14:52 | +3 | Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot (Chance McMillian assists) | 2-16 | |
14:29 | +2 | Langston Love makes two point layup (Jalen Bridges assists) | 4-16 | |
14:18 | Pop Isaacs misses three point jump shot | |||
14:16 | Ja'Kobe Walter defensive rebound | |||
14:06 | +3 | Jalen Bridges makes three point jump shot (RayJ Dennis assists) | 7-16 | |
13:34 | Joe Toussaint misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
13:32 | RayJ Dennis defensive rebound | |||
13:15 | Pop Isaacs personal foul (Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua draws the foul) | |||
13:10 | +2 | RayJ Dennis makes two point driving finger roll layup | 9-16 | |
12:44 | Pop Isaacs misses two point layup | |||
12:42 | Jalen Bridges defensive rebound | |||
12:27 | Miro Little misses three point jump shot | |||
12:24 | Red Raiders defensive rebound | |||
12:15 | +2 | Darrion Williams makes two point jump shot (Eemeli Yalaho assists) | 9-18 | |
11:49 | RayJ Dennis misses two point jump shot | |||
11:47 | Red Raiders defensive rebound | |||
11:47 | Yves Missi personal foul | |||
11:47 | TV timeout | |||
11:37 | Chance McMillian misses three point jump shot | |||
11:35 | Miro Little defensive rebound | |||
11:14 | +2 | Josh Ojianwuna makes two point layup (Miro Little assists) | 11-18 | |
11:14 | Chance McMillian shooting foul (Josh Ojianwuna draws the foul) | |||
11:14 | Josh Ojianwuna misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
11:14 | Eemeli Yalaho defensive rebound | |||
11:07 | Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot | |||
11:05 | Jalen Bridges defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | Darrion Williams personal foul | |||
10:52 | Ja'Kobe Walter misses three point jump shot | |||
10:50 | Darrion Williams defensive rebound | |||
10:40 | RayJ Dennis personal foul (Pop Isaacs draws the foul) | |||
10:33 | +2 | Darrion Williams makes two point layup | 11-20 | |
10:09 | Darrion Williams shooting foul (Caleb Lohner draws the foul) | |||
10:09 | +1 | Caleb Lohner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-20 | |
10:09 | +1 | Caleb Lohner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-20 | |
9:58 | +3 | Chance McMillian makes three point jump shot (Joe Toussaint assists) | 13-23 | |
9:33 | Caleb Lohner misses two point layup | |||
9:31 | Robert Jennings defensive rebound | |||
9:12 | +2 | Joe Toussaint makes two point driving layup | 13-25 | |
8:52 | Jayden Nunn misses three point jump shot | |||
8:50 | Robert Jennings defensive rebound | |||
8:34 | +3 | Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot (Joe Toussaint assists) | 13-28 | |
8:11 | Robert Jennings shooting foul (Jayden Nunn draws the foul) | |||
8:11 | Jayden Nunn misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:11 | +1 | Jayden Nunn makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-28 | |
7:41 | Chance McMillian misses three point jump shot | |||
7:39 | Jalen Bridges defensive rebound | |||
7:39 | Jalen Bridges turnover (out of bounds) | |||
7:39 | TV timeout | |||
7:30 | Joe Toussaint misses two point jump shot | |||
7:28 | Ja'Kobe Walter defensive rebound | |||
7:20 | +2 | Jayden Nunn makes two point layup | 16-28 | |
7:20 | Robert Jennings shooting foul (Jayden Nunn draws the foul) | |||
7:20 | +1 | Jayden Nunn makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-28 | |
7:08 | Yves Missi blocks Joe Toussaint's two point layup | |||
7:06 | Kerwin Walton offensive rebound | |||
7:02 | +2 | Kerwin Walton makes two point jump shot | 17-30 | |
6:49 | Yves Missi turnover (traveling) | |||
6:36 | Jalen Bridges blocks Kerwin Walton's two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:34 | Joe Toussaint offensive rebound | |||
6:21 | +2 | Pop Isaacs makes two point jump shot | 17-32 | |
5:56 | Ja'Kobe Walter misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:54 | Kerwin Walton defensive rebound | |||
5:54 | Jalen Bridges personal foul (Kerwin Walton draws the foul) | |||
5:43 | Josh Ojianwuna personal foul (Eemeli Yalaho draws the foul) | |||
5:43 | Eemeli Yalaho misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
5:43 | Josh Ojianwuna defensive rebound | |||
5:29 | Josh Ojianwuna misses two point driving layup | |||
5:27 | Pop Isaacs defensive rebound | |||
5:06 | Pop Isaacs misses three point jump shot | |||
5:04 | Bears defensive rebound | |||
4:51 | Pop Isaacs personal foul (Ja'Kobe Walter draws the foul) | |||
4:51 | Ja'Kobe Walter misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
4:51 | Eemeli Yalaho defensive rebound | |||
4:32 | Eemeli Yalaho misses two point jump shot | |||
4:30 | Jalen Bridges defensive rebound | |||
4:24 | Darrion Williams personal foul (RayJ Dennis draws the foul) | |||
4:24 | +1 | RayJ Dennis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-32 | |
4:24 | +1 | RayJ Dennis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-32 | |
3:59 | Joe Toussaint turnover (traveling) | |||
3:59 | TV timeout | |||
3:48 | Jalen Bridges turnover (bad pass) (Eemeli Yalaho steals) | |||
3:40 | +2 | Eemeli Yalaho makes two point layup (Pop Isaacs assists) | 19-34 | |
3:40 | Jayden Nunn shooting foul (Eemeli Yalaho draws the foul) | |||
3:40 | Eemeli Yalaho misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
3:40 | Josh Ojianwuna defensive rebound | |||
3:24 | Jayden Nunn misses three point jump shot | |||
3:22 | Pop Isaacs defensive rebound | |||
3:11 | Kerwin Walton turnover (bad pass) (Josh Ojianwuna steals) | |||
3:06 | +2 | Josh Ojianwuna makes two point driving dunk | 21-34 | |
2:37 | Josh Ojianwuna shooting foul (Pop Isaacs draws the foul) | |||
2:37 | Pop Isaacs misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:37 | +1 | Pop Isaacs makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-35 | |
2:20 | Jalen Bridges misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
2:18 | Pop Isaacs defensive rebound | |||
2:01 | Kerwin Walton turnover (bad pass) | |||
1:49 | Pop Isaacs personal foul (Yves Missi draws the foul) | |||
1:49 | Yves Missi misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
1:49 | Kerwin Walton defensive rebound | |||
1:42 | Jayden Nunn personal foul (Joe Toussaint draws the foul) | |||
1:42 | +1 | Joe Toussaint makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-36 | |
1:42 | +1 | Joe Toussaint makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-37 | |
1:18 | +2 | RayJ Dennis makes two point driving layup | 23-37 | |
1:00 | Langston Love personal foul (Eemeli Yalaho draws the foul) | |||
1:00 | Eemeli Yalaho misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:00 | +1 | Eemeli Yalaho makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-38 | |
0:49 | +2 | Langston Love makes two point jump shot | 25-38 | |
0:46 | Red Raiders 30 second timeout | |||
0:32 | +2 | Eemeli Yalaho makes two point layup (Chance McMillian assists) | 25-40 | |
0:02 | +2 | Yves Missi makes two point alley-oop dunk (RayJ Dennis assists) | 27-40 | |
0:00 | End of period |