Kansas State basketball vs Texas Tech: Score prediction, scouting report for Big 12 game

Posted by Admin January 13, 2025 Basketball

Spread the love

MANHATTAN — After a promising start to Big 12 conference play, things have gone south in a hurry for Kansas State’s basketball team.

The Wildcats (7-8, 1-3 Big 12) have dipped below .500 for the first time and bring a three-game losing streak into an 8 p.m. game Tuesday against Texas Tech (11-4, 2-2) at Bramlage Coliseum.

As the losses have mounted, so has the Wildcats’ margin of defeat, including an 87-57 blowout at the hands of No. 11-ranked Houston on Saturday. It was their worst home loss since falling by 31 to Baylor in 2021.

Texas Tech also is coming off an 85-84 overtime heartbreaker at home to Iowa State. Both of the Red Raiders’ conference victories came on the road — at Utah and Brigham Young.

After facing the stingiest defense in the nation in Houston, Texas Tech presents a different challenge for K-State with an offense that averages 85.4 points.

Here are three things to know, plus a prediction, for Tuesday’s game.

Kansas State’s Jerome Tang faces former colleague

For the second time in less than a month, K-State coach Jerome Tang faces a former colleague from his days as a Baylor assistant.

Tang and Tech coach Grant McCasland served on Scott Drew’s Baylor staff together from 2011-16. On Dec. 21, the Wildcats closed out nonconference play with an 84-65 loss at Wichita State, coached by former Baylor assistant Paul Mills.

McCasland’s Texas Tech team beat Tang and K-State, 60-59, last year in Lubbock, in their first meeting as Big 12 head coaches.

A closer look at the Texas Tech Red Raiders

Tech ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring and leads the league in field goal accuracy at 50.5%. The Red Raiders also are second in 3-point percentage at 39.7.

Tech has four scorers averaging double figures, led by sophomore New Mexico transfer JT Toppin with 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds. Forward Darrion Williams adds 16.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, guard Chance McMillian 15.7 points and reserve guard Kevin Overton 10.

The offensive catalyst is Minnesota transfer Elijah Hawkins, who has 28 assists and just two turnovers in four conference games.

K-State’s Brendan Hausen breaks out of slump

After averaging just 5.0 points on 4 of 17 3-point shooting through the first three conference games, K-State guard Brendan Hausen regained his touch against Houston, knocking down five 3-pointers for a team-high 15 points.

Hausen ranks second on the team in scoring overall at 12.2 points, and even with the slump he is shooting 40.5% from 3-point range.

Prediction: Texas Tech 79, Kansas State 70

K-State will need a solid defensive effort to slow Texas Tech’s multiple scoring threats. The last thing the Wildcats want is a shootout against a Tech team that has been held under 72 points just once this season.

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen.