Kendall Smith scored 21 points, including seven free throws over the final 1:34, as Oklahoma State soared past No. 6 Texas Tech 79-71 on Wednesday in a Big 12 Conference game at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

Oklahoma State led by as many as 16 points in the second half before the Red Raiders methodically began their comeback. A pair of free throws by Justin Gray with 2:19 to play brought Texas Tech to within 70-66.

Mitchell Solomon made a free throw and Kendall Smith hit a pair from the charity stripe to push the Cowboys' advantage back to 73-66 with 1:34 remaining. Oklahoma State made enough free throws in the final minute to hold off the Red Raiders.

Lindy Waters III added 18 points for the Cowboys (16-12, 6-9 Big 12), and Jeffrey Carroll hit for 14. Oklahoma State outshot Texas Tech 53.3 percent to 41.7 percent while breaking a three-game home losing streak.

Zhaire Smith led the Red Raiders with 18 points, 16 of which he scored in the first half. Jarrett Culver added 15 for Texas Tech (22-6, 10-5), while Niem Stevenson and Justin Gray scored 14 and 10 points, respectively.

The loss was the second in a row for Texas Tech, dropping the Red Raiders a game behind Kansas for first place in the conference with three games to play.

Texas Tech found its stride late in the half, using a 12-5 run over the final 4:52 to assume a 35-34 lead at intermission.

Zhaire Smith was nearly perfect over the first 20 minutes of play, hitting on all six of his shots from the floor (including a pair of 3-pointers) and making both of his free throws while leading all scorers with 16 points.

Oklahoma State stayed with the Red Raiders in the first half thanks to balanced scoring -- Kendall Smith hit for eight points while Waters tallied seven -- and by outshooting Texas Tech 57.1 percent to 50 percent.

Oklahoma State trailed by one at halftime but made its first nine shots from the floor in the second half to build a 59-43 lead with 12:45 to play.

Texas Tech's leading scorer, Keenan Evans, was limited by a toe injury he sustained Saturday in the Red Raiders' loss at Baylor. Evans took just seven shots Wednesday and scored two points.

Texas Tech's next game is at home on Saturday vs. No. 8 Kansas in a battle for the conference lead. Oklahoma State travels to Texas, also on Saturday afternoon.

--Field Level Media