Texas Tech beats Boston College 75-64 in Tip-Off tourney

Nov 18, 2017, 08:09 pm

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Keenan Evans scored 18 of his 29 points in the second half to lead Texas Tech over Boston College 75-64 Saturday in the Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament.

The Red Raiders (3-0) advance to play the winner of No. 20 Northwestern-La Salle in Sunday's championship. Zach Smith had 11 points and nine rebounds, while and Jarrett Culver added 11 points.

"My team they just look at me to score the ball and without them I wouldn't have got those looks," said Evans, who shot 9 of 16 from the field and 10 of 10 at the foul line. "I try to be that guy for my teammates when I am on and get going. Thankfully they look at me to be that guy and lift them up."

Texas Tech held a 42-28 advantage in scoring in the paint, including 26 in the second half. The Red Raiders scored 16 points on 12 offensive rebounds.

"That's our identity," Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. "That's what we try to do, we're a team that likes to play inside-out."

Ky Bowman led Boston College (3-1) with 15 points, while Nik Popovic had 12 and Jordan Chatman 11 as the Eagles had five players in double figures. Jerome Robinson and Deontae Hawkins had 10 apiece.

Boston College committed a season-high 18 turnovers, which led to 21 Texas Tech points.

"These early games, hopefully, you learn from these situations," Boston College coach Jim Christian said. "I thought it was a game of time, scores and situations, and we were not very good.

"We missed timely free throws, we fouled late in the clock, and we cut it to one or two, then turned the ball over."

Evans scored 11 points to help Texas Tech take a 36-31 halftime lead. The Red Raiders never trailed in the second half and closed the game with an 8-0 run after Boston College cut the lead to 67-64 with 1:39 left.

The Eagles rallied from a 25-13 deficit to take a 31-30 advantage on Bowman's jumper with 1:07 left, but the Red Raiders scored the final six points of the half.

BIG PICTURE

Boston College: The Eagles were trying for their first 4-0 start since the 2007-08 season.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders came in having not allowed more than 50 points in a game and opponents shooting just 27.2 percent, which ranked fourth in the country.

UP NEXT

Boston College heads home after Sunday's game to play Colgate before ending the month with road trips to Providence and Nebraska.

Texas Tech returns to Lubbock after the championship Wofford and Savannah State, but will be back East at the end of the month to play Seton Hall on Nov. 30 at Madison Square Garden.

ROLE PLAYERS

The Red Raiders outscored Boston College 28-6 off the bench, with Culver and Brandone Francis (eight points) supplying most of the offense. Twenty of Texas Tech's points came in the first half.

TURNING POINT

The Eagles were still in it with 2:52 left, trailing just 65-63, but Hawkins was called for an offensive foul on a moving pick just over midcourt. Smith would score at the other end to make it a two possession game, 67-63..