No. 17 Texas Tech pulls away for win over Grambling St.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Kyler Edwards had 13 points and 11 rebounds, leading five players scoring in double figures for No. 17 Texas Tech as the Red Raiders overcame a sluggish start and pulled away in an 81-40 win over Grambling State on Sunday.
The Red Raiders (4-1) never trailed after Edwards made a 3-pointer only 17 seconds into the game, but they then missed 12 of their next 13 shots. They also had a nearly five-minute stretch later in the first half when they missed five shots in a row and had four turnovers.
Mac McClung, Terrence Shannon Jr. and freshman Nimari Burnett all had 12 points for Texas Tech, while Jamarius Burton had 10. Burnett also had six steals in his 15 minutes of action.
Cameron Christon had 11 points, and was the only player in double figures for Grambling State (1-3).
McClung, the transfer guard from Georgetown who led the Red Raiders in scoring the first four games, was 0-for-5 shooting until his 3-pointer midway through the second half that made it 62-28. That was the last of seven points in a row he scored to wrap up a 16-0 run for Tech.
During that turnover-filled stretch by the Red Raiders late in the first half, Grambling got within 22-17 when Trevell Cunningham converted a turnover into a three-point play with 3:22 left. He had a steal off a bad pass by Marcus Santos-Silva, then drove and made a layup while being fouled.
That was the closest the Tigers got.
Shannon's jumper with 2:59 left started an 11-2 run to end the first half, a span when he had three field goals, including a mid-range fadeaway jumper to put the Red Raiders up 33-19 at the break.
Shannon was helped off the court with just over 11 minutes left after rolling his left ankle. Coach Chris Beard said Shannon had X-rays and appeared to be OK.
BIG PICTURE
Grambling St.: The Tigers had 30 turnovers while taking only 37 shots. Their miscues led to 30 points for Texas Tech. After Christon's 3-pointer tied it at 3 more than 3 minutes into the game, Grambling State went more than 5 1/2 minutes before making another field goal.
Texas Tech: After the tough shooting start, the Red Raiders made 51% (24 of 47) of their field goals after that and finished 52% (26 of 62) overall. They had 10 turnovers at halftime, only three in the second half.
UP NEXT
Grambling State: at Incarnate Word next Saturday night.
Texas Tech: Plays Abilene Christian at home on Wednesday night.
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