No. 16 Texas Tech built a 20-point halftime lead and held off a late Illinois rally to beat the No. 3 Fighting Illini 84–78 Tuesday night at United Supermarkets Arena. The win is the highest-ranked nonconference home win in program history and extends the Red Raiders' nonconference home winning streak to 49 games.
How it happened
Tech took control early, winning the first-half rebounding battle 23–15 and outscoring Illinois 15–2 off turnovers to lead 49–29 at the break. Illinois answered after halftime and cut the margin to 65–64 on an Andrej Stojakovic layup with 5:37 to play.
Damarion Dennis responded with a 3-pointer on the next trip, and Donovan Atwell buried another to make it 71–66. A Cruz Davis jumper pushed the lead to eight with two minutes left, and Atwell and Darrion Williams each hit two free throws in the final 30 seconds to close it out.
Who stood out
Davis led Tech (3-0) with 20 points and five assists. Jamichael Stillwell, making his Red Raider debut after transferring from UCF, posted 11 points and 13 rebounds for the team's first double-double of the season. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn added 15 points, Atwell scored 13 with three 3-pointers and a career-high five steals, and Dennis finished with 10.
Tech outrebounded Illinois 43–32 and forced 16 turnovers, holding the Illini (2-1) 38 points below their season scoring average.
"This place will not let us lose," Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. "What a great team win in an amazing environment."
A program first
The win tops Tech's previous best nonconference home victory over a ranked team, a win over No. 4 SMU in 1957. It also evens the all-time series with Illinois at 1-1 after the Illini won 81–77 in Champaign last season.
What's next
Tech hosts Stonehill at noon Saturday and New Orleans next week before heading to Las Vegas for the Players Era, where it opens against No. 10 Louisville. Nonconference games against No. 2 Duke and No. 21 USC are also ahead.
For the buildup to the game, read the Chronicle's Illinois game preview.
From: Texas Tech Athletics
