Texas Tech is starting to find its defensive groove, and that hasn't been good for the four overwhelmed smaller programs that have ventured to Lubbock to face the 17th-ranked Red Raiders.
Texas Tech cruised to an 81-40 win over outmanned Grambling on Sunday. The victory was the Red Raiders' fourth lopsided win at home this season against teams from non-power five leagues.
After overcoming its own sluggish offensive start, Texas Tech (4-1) was dominant on both ends of the court. Five Red Raiders scored in double digits, with Kyler Edwards' 13 points making him the first player other than Mac McClung to lead the way this season.
McClung didn't make a shot from the floor until the midway point of the second half but wound up with 12 points. That total was matched by Terrence Shannon Jr. and Nimari Burnett, a season-best for the latter who is the program's first McDonald's All-American recruit.
Cam Christon led Grambling (1-3) with 11 points.
The Tigers finished with nearly as many turnovers (30) as field-goal attempts (37) in the face of the Texas Tech defense. The Red Raiders turned those Grambling errors into 30 points.
Texas Tech pulled away for a 33-19 lead at halftime after hitting only 2 of 10 from the floor in the game's initial six minutes. The Red Raiders wound up shooting 37.5 percent from the field by halftime but also coughed the ball up 10 times.
Grambling's struggles were worse, however. The Tigers made only 6 of 18 from the floor and lost the ball 14 times.
On his way to a double-double, Edwards was big in the opening 20 minutes with 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Whatever shot Grambling had at chipping away at the halftime deficit faded when Texas Tech unloaded a 16-0 run over a 4:43 stretch. That turned a 46-28 lead into a romp when McClung buried his first field goal, a 3-pointer.
McClung scored all 12 of his points in the second half and Burnett had 10.
--Field Level Media
Grambling State | Texas Tech | |
Cameron Christon 11 | Scoring | Kyler Edwards 13 |
Trevell Cunningham 1 | Assists | Kyler Edwards 5 |
Cameron Christon 6 | Rebounds | Kyler Edwards 11 |
Reyhan Cobb 3 | Free Throws Made | Nimari Burnett 7 |
Cameron Woodall 2 | Steals | Nimari Burnett 6 |
Reyhan Cobb 2 | Blocks | Kyler Edwards 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Grambling State | 40 | 35.1 | 2-14 | 12-20 | 3 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 30 |
Texas Tech | 81 | 41.9 | 8-18 | 21-27 | 16 | 35 | 7 | 13 | 12 |