LUBBOCK, Texas — Dylan Diss added 21 points and Max Abmas added 18 points as Texas cruised through a strong first half to defeat the Texans in Tuesday night's game that was delayed significantly due to fans throwing things on the floor. They defeated Polytechnic University 81-69.
Midway through the second half, Texas' Brock Cunningham gave Darrion Williams a hard check that sent the Red Raiders player flying out of bounds. Objects, including water bottles, were thrown onto the floor as officials reviewed the play, and security was seen escorting several fans out of the arena.
Cunningham was ejected for flagrant foul #2, and Texas Tech received an administrative technical for fan conduct. This announcement led to more objects being thrown. Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland took to the microphone and asked the crowd to stand still.
“Everyone knows what's at stake in this game,” McCasland said after the game, according to the Lubbock Avalanche Journal. “There's a lot going on. There's a lot of passion in this game. When you have to speak on the microphone, you're talking to over 150,000 people, but you're actually talking to people. You're talking to a few passionate people.'' When I finally communicated clearly, many people applauded and said, “That can't be true.'' I understand. Because it's not something we have to do, and we know it's going to be technically expensive and cause problems. .
“But you can tell that there's a lot of passion in this wonderful place. Unfortunately, I thought the decisions of a few people affected everyone, but that's not the essence of this. We will get better.”
After the game restarted, Tech (29-9, 8-7 Big 12) scored the next five points, cutting the deficit to under 20 points for the first time in the first half, but the Red Raiders fell just short of a 12-point lead in the final game. There wasn't. margin.
Texas coach Rodney Terry said he told officials he was considering removing his team from the court before order was restored.
“I'm sure you said that [referee] Kelly Self,” Terry said. “I said, Kelly, hey, if they keep throwing, I'm going to go back to the locker room because at this point they're throwing right into our bench.'' I said, “I have one technical foul.'' I said I understand. It should be a second technical foul, but if they keep throwing things at our players on the bench, we have to protect our players and get inside. .”
Terry praised McCasland for getting on the microphone and “calming everyone down a little bit.”
“Some coaches don't do that,” Terry said. “He did that. He deserves credit. I'm proud of him. I'm proud of Coach Grant. He's a great character and a good guy who did a great job coaching the team.”
Chendal Weaver had 15 points and Kadyn Shedrick had 10 points for Texas (18-10, 7-8).
Isaacs finished with 17 points and added 13 in the second half for Tech, which lost for the second time in 16 home games. Williams had 16 points, Joe Toussaint had 13 points and Chance McMillian had 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. The 7-foot Warren Washington has started all 24 games he has played, but was sidelined with a lingering foot injury.
A loud and lively crowd encouraged the Red Raiders to participate early in the scheduled final meeting between these rivals. But Texas (18-10, 7-8), who will leave the Big 12 for the SEC next season, never trailed, outscoring the Red Raiders 28-9 in the final seven minutes of the first half to take a 47-23 lead. did. Texas shot 60% in the first half, including Disou's 12 points and Abmas' 11 points. Tech shot just 24 percent in the first half, going 1-of-10 from the arc, and Isaacs was 0-of-10 from the floor.
56 free throws were made and three players on each team finished with four fouls.
The Longhorns won a split of the season series, earning their 90th win in a series spanning 157 games.
Texas plays Oklahoma State on Saturday, and Texas Tech plays West Virginia on Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
