LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 25 points and No. 19 Texas Tech finally pulled away from Bethune-Cookman for a 76-58 victory on Thursday night to extend its nonconference home winning streak to 48 games.
Bethune-Cookman (0-2), coached by two-time NBA All-Star Reggie Theus, trailed by as many as 17 points before halftime. The Wildcats twice got within six points midway through the second half before the Red Raiders had a 12-1 run and maintained a double-digit lead the final 8 minutes.
Cruz Davis added 15 points for Texas Tech (2-0). Josiah Moseley had 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Red Raiders have won 102 of their last 103 nonconference home games since December 2013, the lone loss 76-74 in overtime to No. 15 Kentucky on Jan. 25, 2020. They are 25-0 in nonconference home games under fourth-year coach Grant McCasland.
Connor Teasley had 11 points for Bethune-Cookman. Vuk Boskovic and Jaylen Jones scored 10 each.
Bethune-Cookman was within 48-42 on a 3-pointer by Boskovic with 11:58 left before Damarion Dennis made a 3 for Tech. After Boskovic hit from long range again to make it 53-47 with 9:20 left, Tech went on its 12-1 run.
There were 51 combined fouls and 63 free throws — 32 for Bethune-Cookman and 31 for Tech. Both teams made 19 free throws.
Texas Tech, still without All-America post player JT Toppin while rehabbing from a torn ACL in his right knee last February, missed seven of its first eight shots in the game. But its only deficit was 2-1 before Davis made a 3-pointer.
Up next
Bethune-Cookman: At Grand Canyon Saturday night.
Texas Tech: Hosts No. 3 Illinois Tuesday night.
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The Associated Press