From K-State Athletics
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech used a 14-4 game-ending run, including a game-deciding 3-point play from senior Joe Toussaint with 30 seconds to play, to continue its home winning streak over Kansas State with a 60-59 victory on Saturday before 14,856 fans at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Leading 55-46 with 4:37 to play, K-State (12-4, 2-1 Big 12) saw its chances of ending a 9-game losing streak at United Supermarkets Arena fall painstakingly short, as Texas Tech (14-2, 3-0 Big 12) scored 11 of the last 13 points to complete the rally from a 12-point second half deficit.
With the win, the Red Raiders extended their Big 12-best winning streak to 9 games, while moving to a perfect 10-0 at home this season. The loss snapped the Wildcats’ 4-game winning streak and 2-0 start to Big 12 play. K-State’s last win in Lubbock came in a 60-56 victory on Feb. 25, 2014.
Texas Tech scored 8 straight points during the game-ending run to tie the game at 57-all after a pair of free throws from sophomore Darrion Williams with 1:37 to play. Senior Tylor Perry gave K-State its last lead at 59-57 with 41 seconds remaining before Toussaint converted on a layup and the game-winning free throw with 30 seconds to play.
K-State had one last chance with 17 seconds to play, but Perry’s jumper came up short at the buzzer.
Perry led all players with 16 points, while juniors Cam Carter and Arthur Kaluma gave the Wildcats’ three double-digit scorers with 15 and 10 points, respectively. McNair Jr. nearly registered a double-double with 9 points and a game-high 9 rebounds while collecting a career-best 5 blocks.
Toussaint led the Red Raiders with 12 points, including 7 in the second half, while senior Warren Washington totaled a near double-double with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Williams and sophomore Pop Isaacs each added 10 points.
The Wildcats overcame a sloppy start to the game, in which, the team had as many points (10) as turnovers (10) in the first 12 minutes in trailing by 9 points. However, a 3-point play from senior Will McNair Jr. ignited a 23-3 run to end the half, including a stretch of 20 straight, to take a 33-22 lead at the break. During the run, the Wildcats knocked down 6 3-pointers, including 4 from Perry.
K-State held the lead for much of the second half, thwarting several Texas Tech rallies before the final run. The Red Raiders cut the deficit to 46-44 at the 8-minute mark, but the Wildcats responded with 9 of the next 11 points to push ahead 55-46 with 4:37 remaining. They led 57-49 after a layup by redshirt freshman Dorian Finister with 3:21 to play before the late 8-0 run by the home team.
K-State connected on 44 percent (22-of-50) shooting from the field, including 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from 3-point range. Despite knocking down 10 3-pointers, the Wildcats were held to a season-low 18 points in the paint. The team entered the game averaging 34.8 points per game in the paint.
Texas Tech was held to just 36.4 percent (20-of-55) shooting, including 20 percent (5-of-25) from long range. However, the Red Raiders were able to grab 14 offensive rebounds and convert those into a 14-5 advantage in second-chance points. They were also excellent from the free throw line, knocking down 15-of-18 attempts, including a perfect effort by Isaacs (5-of-5) and Toussaint (3-of-3).
K-State still holds a narrow 26-25 record in the all-time series, but Texas Tech has a 22-19 advantage in the Big 12 era, including a 16-4 at home.
The game was the first meeting for head coaches Jerome Tang and Grant McCasland, who spent 5 seasons together on Scott Drew’s coaching staff at Baylor from 2011-16. In addition, Perry played 2 seasons (2021-23) for McCasland at North Texas.
K-State begins a 2-game homestand on Tuesday night, as the Wildcats play host to No. 14/14 Baylor (14-2, 3-0 Big 12) at 7 p.m.
