Texas Tech Hands Chris Beard a Giant L in His Return to Lubbock

Texas Tech basketball and the United Supermarkets Arena were ready when Texas came to town. Bryson Williams scored first, and Texas Tech pretty much never looked back with a final score of 77 to 64.

Texas Tech took an early lead behind Williams dominating in the paint to open the game. The Red Raiders would lead 12-5 with 14 minutes left in the first half.

The Red Raiders dominated early on offense and defense, with Kevin McCullar showing major emotion -- a bounce-back effort from a week ago.

The Longhorns would work Texas Tech's lead back to just three in the first half, but Kevin Obanor's sequence of shooting a three pointer and taking a charge would spur on the Red Raiders to get to a solid lead at halftime.

Bryson Williams and Kevin McCullar then sank late threes to stretch that lead even further.

Texas Tech would take a 14-point lead into the half, with the Red Raiders shooting 45 percent from deep. It was a percentage that just hasn't happened often this season.

In the second half, Texas would chip away several times, but big shots kept the Longhorns at distance -- like this one from Bryson Williams:

And this one from Kevin Obanor:

The Red Raiders would continue to make plays, keeping their lead around 10 points for the majority of the final 10 minutes of the second half.

The USA crowd was hot early and was engaged the entire way through with a major effect on the game from start to finish. Inside the final two minutes of the game, the Texas Tech faithful could feel the win inching closer with the Red Raiders on the floor feeling the same. Most of the final minutes were trading free throws with Kevin McCullar making the most of it.

The broadcasters closed the game by saying that the United Supermarkets Arena was the best atmosphere in college basketball this season. It's true. It was a national stage, and Texas Tech showed out. In contrast, the game before on ESPN2 was being played in an empty arena in Maryland.

Texas Tech finished with four players in double figures. McCullar led all scorers with 19 points, with 12 of them from the free-throw line. Obanor added 17 points, and Williams had 16 after a huge first half.