Written by Lisa Chung
Boston MA – In just two seasons being at Texas Tech, not only has head coach Chris Beard turned the basketball program around, he has gotten them to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history. Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the Purdue Boilermakers by a score of 78-65 in the Sweet 16. Texas Tech will join fellow Big 12 conference members in Kansas and Kansas State in the Elite 8.
Purdue and Texas Tech kept up with each other all game. Even with star Purdue center Isaac Hass out with an elbow injury, the Boilermakers seemed to do well early on. Both teams went a scoreless for close to five minutes tied at 15-15. In the early minutes of the game, Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith got into some foul trouble and it started to look a bit bleak for the Red Raiders. That’s when the rest of the Red Raiders stepped up. Texas Tech was able to take a narrow 30-25 lead over Purdue heading into halftime.
In the second half, Smith helped the Raiders get ahead by scoring nine points. The Red Raiders also forced 17 turnovers from the Boilermakers, forcing them out of their flow. Guard Keenan Evans also dropped 16 points for the Red Raiders to lead the team in scoring. This is the 23rd time this season Evans has led the team in scoring. During the second half, Purdue was able to come back from being down nine points but it wasn’t enough to get the win.
In the final moments of the game, it was a clear that Texas Tech would be advancing to the Elite 8, cutting Purdue’s March Madness run short.
Texas Tech will face off against Villanova on Sunday at 2:20pm EST in the Elite 8.
Purdue and Texas Tech kept up with each other all game. Even with star Purdue center Isaac Hass out with an elbow injury, the Boilermakers seemed to do well early on. Both teams went a scoreless for close to five minutes tied at 15-15. In the early minutes of the game, Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith got into some foul trouble and it started to look a bit bleak for the Red Raiders. That’s when the rest of the Red Raiders stepped up. Texas Tech was able to take a narrow 30-25 lead over Purdue heading into halftime.
In the second half, Smith helped the Raiders get ahead by scoring nine points. The Red Raiders also forced 17 turnovers from the Boilermakers, forcing them out of their flow. Guard Keenan Evans also dropped 16 points for the Red Raiders to lead the team in scoring. This is the 23rd time this season Evans has led the team in scoring. During the second half, Purdue was able to come back from being down nine points but it wasn’t enough to get the win.
In the final moments of the game, it was a clear that Texas Tech would be advancing to the Elite 8, cutting Purdue’s March Madness run short.
Texas Tech will face off against Villanova on Sunday at 2:20pm EST in the Elite 8.