LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Jarrett Culver had his first double-double of the season and scored seven consecutive Texas Tech points to break a tie late in the second half, leading the No. 7 Red Raiders to a 66-59 victory over 23rd-ranked Oklahoma on Tuesday night.
The sophomore, who finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, put his hometown Red Raiders (14-1, 3-0 Big 12) ahead for good with a layup for a 53-51 lead with 4:22 remaining, then converted a three-point play to push the lead to five.
After Aaron Calixte hit a 3-pointer to get the Sooners back within two, Culver muscled through a crowd to rebound his own miss of a short bank shot and powered up over two defenders for a bucket and a 58-53 lead.
Christian James scored 14 points for the Sooners (12-3, 1-2) and Brady Manek added 13, but second-half shooting struggles caught up with Oklahoma in a second Big 12 loss to a Top 10 opponent.
The Sooners were up 40-33 after Manek hit a 3-pointer with 17:23 to play, but Brandone Francis sparked a 12-4 run by Texas Tech with a 3. Matt Mooney’s layup put Texas Tech in front before Manek hit another 3 to get Oklahoma even at 51-all.
Davide Moretti scored 12 points for Texas Tech, including a pair of free throws with the Red Raiders leading by three with 21 seconds remaining. Culver was 8-of-13 from the field and scored nine of Texas Tech’s final 15 points.
Big picture
Oklahoma: The Sooners dropped their second Big 12 game in the first three, but it’s hard to argue anybody has played a tougher early schedule. They still need more of an inside presence to get back on track.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders just keep winning because they make life miserable for opponents on the offensive end. OU shot 32 percent, right at Texas Tech’s nation-leading average for field goal defense.
