Four Point Play: Texas stages another second-half comeback to defeat Texas Tech, 72-70

Texas Tech guard Pop Isaacs was the Red Raiders’ offensive catalyst for the entire contest between Tech and the Texas Longhorns, and hit two free throws with 50 seconds left to cut Texas’ lead to 63-60. When the Longhorns inbounded the ball, Marcus Carr caught the pass, dribbled up the floor, and found Timmy Allen driving to the hoop.

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Allen moved toward the rim, skied for a layup, hit it, and drew the foul. He hit the ensuing free throw to make it 66-60 with 46 seconds left.

Those 46 seconds seemed to take 45 minutes. From that point, Texas acting head coach Rodney Terry and TTU head coach Mark Adams waged a war of basketball attrition. Those final 46 seconds were highlighted by quality shot-making from Carr and Sir’Jabari Rice at the free-throw line and scrappy, desperations heaves from Isaacs and De’Vion Harmon that kept the Red Raiders in it.

It also included Terry sticking with the commonly-held belief to foul while up three late, and Adams trying to make the most out of missed free throws.

But when Carr pulled down a missed free throw from former Longhorn Jaylon Tyson, it signaled the end of the match. Checkmate, Horns. 72-70.

Texas had to overcome a first-half deficit for the second time in a week. The Red Raiders led by as much as 10 in the second half, but the Longhorns cleaned up their act after a sloppy first 20 minutes to turn a double-digit deficit into as much as a seven-point lead. Texas tied the game with 12:37 remaining in the half, and did not trail again the rest of the way.

Second-Half Team

In back-to-back games, Texas sputtered out of the gate. Against TCU earlier in the week, the Longhorns had 29 points and eight first-half turnovers. On Saturday night against Texas Tech, Texas scored 25 points and had seven first-half turnovers.

Whatever Terry has said in the locker room between the 20 minute periods in the past two contests as worked. Texas scored 50 in the second half versus TCU to overcome the Frogs’ 18-point lead, while on Saturday the Horns scored 47 to overcome what was a double-digit margin early in the second half.

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It’s not just offense that helps the Longhorns in the second half, the defense was active as well (though it should be noted UT shot 60 percent in the second half versus TCU and 52 percent versus Texas Tech). Longhorn defensive efforts have caused opponents to turn the ball over 16 times in the last two second halves, with eight apiece for Tech and TCU.

A supportive home crowd that more easily gets into games like the one at the Moody Center helps the team in that area. Hostile venues like Hilton Coliseum, Allen Fieldhouse, and even the Ferrell Center will make those types of comebacks far more difficult tasks.

But at home in the Mood, it’s possible. Texas has proved it on back-to-back outings with cleaner, more efficient, and more efforted second halves.

Rice, Allen, Carr do it again

The experienced trio of Carr, Allen, and Rice closed out the Longhorns’ win once again, with each adding double-figure scoring efforts in the second half. Carr finished with 20 points and has placed himself in the thick of the Big 12 player of the year race.

Rice once again provided key offense and defense off the bench and sealed the game with his 7-for-8 effort from the free throw line in the second half. He scored 18 points in the game, and even got a few players to bite on his pump fake.

Allen was an offensive engine early in the second half, converting isolation opportunities that spurred a Longhorn offense that needed a jolt.

The Longhorns required all of their contributions. Three other players, Tyrese Hunter, Dillon Mitchell, and Christian Bishop, all played in 20 or more minutes. They scored nine points, with Hunter dropping a goose egg. Dylan Disu was also held scoreless in his 19 minutes of action.

The unsustainable approach was just enough to get Texas over the line against the Red Raiders. Each has provided veteran leadership the team has required in its stretch of eight wins in nine games. The supporting cast needs to do its part, but these three stars have done everything asked of them.

Terry wins the war

Six of the nine games Terry has been head coach for have been decided by 10 or fewer points.

Terry’s substitution, schematic, and strategic acumen has been tested regularly in the past month of basketball. Against a capable foe in Adams, Terry pushed all the right buttons to guide his team to the win.

One of those buttons included playing Arterio Morris late in the game. Morris hasn’t always been present on the floor when the clock is ticking down, but he made several key plays on the defensive end that indicate the type of player he could be when his all-around ability develops.

But between fouling up three late, mixing and matching lineups, and getting his players in the right state of mind, Terry remained one step ahead of his opponent. That was key in the Longhorns finishing two points ahead.

When it comes time to head to Lubbock

Despite being winless in Big 12 play, which will be a tough hill to climb out of when discussing the NCAA tournament, Texas Tech has quality players and defenders who can give opponents fits on a nightly basis. It is a Big 12 team after all.

Isaacs seems to be a revelation, with his 23 points on 7-of-19 shooting. So too is Tyson and one-time Sooner De’Vion Harmon.

But the most intriguing player for TTU is Fardaws Aimaq. A Utah Valley transfer, Texas pursued Aimaq before he chose Texas Tech. However, his first minutes in a Red Raider uniform were in Austin on Saturday night. He had been recovering from a foot injury in the past few months.

Those “first few minutes” ended up being 29 minutes. He added 12 points and five rebounds and was in position to make a few plays thanks to his size, but the obvious rust hampered him against a tough Longhorn defense.

All that is to say, there’s nothing about Texas Tech that should make Texas think this wasn’t a quality win. Plus, when the Longhorns have to go to Lubbock to face the wrath of the United Supermarkets Arena crowd armed with plenty of material about Chris Beard, those players will likely be playing a better brand of basketball.

The Longhorns will also need to start playing a clean half from the opening tip, but that doesn’t just go for the return game on February 13.

It applies to the upcoming two-game road trip to Ames, Iowa and Morgantown, W. Va.