Obanor helps No. 25 Texas Tech rout Eastern Washington 78-46

Updated Dec. 22, 2021 4:29 p.m. ET
Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Kevin Obanor had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists without a turnover, helping No. 25 Texas Tech beat Eastern Washington 78-46 on Tuesday.

Adonis Arms and Bryson Williams each had 12 points for the Red Raiders (9-2), who rebounded from their loss Saturday to fourth-ranked Gonzaga. Kevin McCullar had 10 points and five assists.

The Red Raiders played without starting guard Terrence Shannon, who missed his second game in a row because of back spasms. Guard Mylik Wilson missed his third straight game because of a knee issue.

Rylan Bergersen had 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting for Eastern Washington (6-6), which entered the game with five players averaging double-figure scoring.

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Eastern Washington led 13-12 after Angelo Allegri’s 3 pointer with 14:47 left in the first half. That was part of his eight consecutive points for the Eagles, all of his points, in a span of less than two minutes. The Eagles shot 26.4% overall (14 of 53) and 22.3% on 3-pointers (8 of 35).

The Red Raiders then outscored EWU 38-14 the rest of the half, including runs of 10-0 and 16-2. They made eight of their first nine shots in the game, including a 3 by Arms on their next possession after Allegri’s run.

Obanor’s 3 with 4:54 left started a 16-2 run that gave the Red Raiders a 50-27 halftime lead.

Texas Tech, who shot 59% overall (29 of 49), went more than five minutes after halftime before a field goal by Marcus Santos-Silva, but had a 13-0 run midway through the second half.

BIG PICTURE

Eastern Washington: The Eagles had 12 newcomers on this year's team, and their starting lineup had four of them — three transfers and a true freshman. The other starter was Steele Venters, a second-year freshman. ... Eastern Washington is 0-11 against Big 12 teams, including a 93-84 loss to Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last March.

Texas Tech: Coach Mark Adams wanted the Red Raiders to do a better job inside, and they outscored Eastern Washington 22-0 in the paint before halftime, and finished with a 40-4 advantage. ... Texas Tech got 12 players in the game, and all but one of them scored.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Red Raiders will go into 2022 in the Top 25. A loss last week didn't knock them out of the poll, and this lopsided victory came in their only game before the final poll of the calendar year comes out next Monday.

UP NEXT

Eastern Washington: At Portland State on Dec. 30.

Texas Tech: Home against Alabama State in another midweek day game next Tuesday.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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