Smith scores 25 as Red Raiders beat LSU in Big 12/SEC match
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Zach Smith led Texas Tech with 25 points as the Red Raiders downed the LSU Tigers 77-64 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday.
Aaron Ross and Niem Stevenson each chipped in 15 points for the Red Raiders (15-6). Anthony Livingston totaled 12 points on four 3-pointers.
“We knew coming in it would be a hard fought contest for us here,” LSU head coach Johnny Jones said. “(Texas Tech) coach (Chris) Beard has done a tremendous job this year with his basketball team, his program, and has gotten off to a really good start.”
Smith led Texas Tech in rebounds with eight and Justin Gray followed with seven.
Antonio Blakeney led LSU (9-11) with 23 points. Duop Reath scored 12 with 11 rebounds for the double-double, his fourth this season. Wayde Sims contributed 10 points off the bench.
The Red Raiders let it fly from beyond the arc converting on 12 of 23 attempts.
“I kept thinking they were going to go on another run and I didn’t feel safe in that game till about a minute left,” Beard said. “It goes back to Johnny; he’s not going to let his team quit.”
LSU struggled from the 3-point line shooting 9 of 21 by the final buzzer.
The Tigers outmatched Texas Tech in points in the paint for a majority of the game until the Red Raiders…