By Adeniyi Precious 
Not every game is going to be pretty, and Texas Tech proved that on Sunday. The Red Raiders built a big lead against Oklahoma State but had to fight to the finish to escape with a 64-54 win at home.
Tech was cruising with an 18-point lead midway through the second half, but things got dicey when OSU cut it to just three with about five minutes left. Fortunately, the Red Raiders made just enough plays—and free throws—to avoid an upset against one of the Big 12’s weaker teams.
The game started well for Tech, especially from beyond the arc. The Red Raiders knocked down 7-of-17 threes in the first half, taking a 37-27 lead into the break. But after halftime, the shots stopped falling—just 1-of-9 from deep—and turnovers started piling up. That cold stretch made things stressful, but Tech still managed to keep pace with OSU on the scoreboard in the second half, maintaining the 10-point lead from halftime.
Free throws played a big role in closing things out. The Red Raiders didn’t get to the line at all in the first half but made 12 in the second, just enough to hold off the Cowboys.
With the win, Tech moves to 6-2 in Big 12 play and 15-4 overall. Even though it wasn’t the smoothest performance, a win is a win—especially in the unpredictable Big 12.
Darrion Williams’ Injury Woes Continue
Forward Darrion Williams just can’t catch a break. For the third time in four games, he rolled his ankle, forcing him to sit out much of the second half. Since first injuring it, he hasn’t looked like himself, failing to score in double figures in his last three outings. On Sunday, he finished with nine points in 27 minutes, shooting just 25.9% over his last three games.
With no extended break in the Big 12 schedule this season, Williams will likely have to tough it out and hope his ankle holds up.
Federiko Federiko Steps Up Late
With starting forward JT Toppin in foul trouble, backup Federiko Federiko came through in a big way. The senior big man put up eight points, grabbed eight rebounds, and swatted three shots—two of them in the closing minutes—to help seal the win.
His performance was a much-needed bounce-back after going scoreless in Tech’s last game. Meanwhile, Toppin was kept quiet by OSU’s defense, managing just eight points and one rebound as he dealt with constant double-teams. Thankfully for Tech, Federiko provided just enough inside presence to make up for it.
Bench Comes Up Clutch for Texas Tech
On a night when only one Red Raider—Chance McMillian—scored in double figures, Tech needed contributions from everyone. The bench answered the call, outscoring OSU’s reserves 24-7.
Federiko played a key role, but he wasn’t the only one. Freshman Christian Anderson chipped in nine points in 33 minutes, while Kevin Overton added seven. Meanwhile, OSU’s bench barely made a dent, with no reserve scoring more than three points.
With the starters struggling, Tech’s bench made sure the team didn’t let this one slip away.
Robert Jennings’ Quiet Return to Lubbock
Former Red Raider Robert Jennings, now with Oklahoma State, didn’t have the revenge game he might’ve hoped for. The 6-foot-7 junior started but played just 19 minutes, finishing with only two points and three rebounds on 1-of-4 shooting.
Jennings had been averaging 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds, but he couldn’t match those numbers against his old team. Tech fans didn’t mind seeing their former player struggle in his return to Lubbock.
At the end of the day, it wasn’t the cleanest win, but Texas Tech found a way to get it done. In the Big 12, that’s all that matters.