LUBBOCK, Texas — Davide Moretti had a career-high 25 points and a pair of Texas Tech freshmen also scored more than 20 as the Red Raiders snapped a two-game losing streak with an 89-81 win over No. 12 West Virginia on Wednesday.
Terrence Shannon Jr. added 23 points, including 12 of 14 free throws in a game plagued by 54 personal fouls. Jahmi’us Ramsey scored 21 for the Red Raiders (13-7, 4-3 Big 12), who never trailed.
Derek Culver had 16 points, with 14 made free throws, to lead five players scoring in double figures for West Virginia (16-4, 4-3).
After Shannon got a technical foul early in the second half for a slight shove of Culver under the basket following a whistle on a shooting foul, the Mountaineers made two of the four free throws and kept possession before Jermaine Haley was fouled and then made both free throws to cut the deficit to 44-42.
That was as close as West Virginia got the rest of the game. Ramsey hit a 3-pointer and by time he hit another with 16:14 left, Texas Tech had stretched its lead to 56-46.
The Red Raiders led by as many as 15 after that while scoring the most points any team has had against the Mountaineers this season.
Texas Tech made 28 of 32 free throws, 12 of 14 after halftime. The Mountaineers were 33 of 41 from the free throw line.
Gabe Osabuohien had 15 points for West Virginia, while Taz Sherman had 11. Haley and Miles McBride each had 10.
Big picture
West Virginia: The Mountaineers were flustered early on after being forced into some turnovers. A lack of perimeter defense from the Mountaineers hurt them in the long run. Texas Tech hit 11 of 17 3-pointers and shot 54.3% overall after making only 28.4% of its field goal attempts in a 12-point loss at West Virginia 2 1/2 weeks ago.
Texas Tech: A good bounce back for the Red Raiders four days after they overcame a 10-point deficit before losing in overtime at home to SEC powerhouse Kentucky. They dropped out of the AP Top 25 this week after being ranked the past six polls.
Up next
West Virginia heads back home to host Kansas State on Saturday.
