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No. 15 Texas Tech Breezes Past Short-Handed Baylor 86-61

Baylor Texas Tech Basketball

Texas Tech’s Matt Mooney (13) shoots the ball for three points during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)

AP

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Jarrett Culver scored 18 points and Davide Moretti added 17 as No. 15 Texas Tech cruised past short-handed and turnover-prone Baylor 86-61 on Saturday.

Jared Butler scored 16 points and Mario Kegler added 15 for the Bears, who were without key backcourt players Makai Mason (foot) and King McClure (knee) for the third consecutive game.

Texas Tech (21-6, 9-4 Big 12) stayed in second place in the Big 12 by using an uncharacteristic hot hand from 3-point range to surge into a first-half lead that was never threatened.

The Raiders made 8 of 14 from long range in the first half, compared to 2 of 12 from inside the arc. Texas Tech finished 12 of 29 on 3-pointers.

Culver made three 3s on the way to 14 first-half points while Moretti was 4 of 8 for the game.

The same offensive problems Baylor encountered in the previous two games without Mason and McClure surfaced again while facing one of the best defensive teams in the country.

The Bears (16-9, 7-5) struggled with 19 turnovers that led to 25 points for Texas Tech in their third loss in four games since a six-game winning streak that put them in Big 12 contention. They shot 35 percent (17 of 49) while missing 10 of 12 from 3-point range after halftime.

Baylor was within 18-15 after a 3-pointer by Butler, but the Red Raiders reeled off a 10-0 run that included seven points from Matt Mooney.

Devonte Bandoo and Butler connected on consecutive 3s to get Baylor within seven before Texas Tech answered with another burst for a 45-32 halftime lead. The Raiders opened the second half with an 11-2 run, fueled by a pair of 3-pointers by Moretti.

BIG PICTURE

Baylor: The Bears are swooning, with three losses in their last four games, and are fading out of serious contention for the Big 12 championship.

Texas Tech: Since a humbling performance at Kansas that was their only loss in the past seven games, the Red Raiders have found a groove. Three of the four victories on the current winning streak were by at least 25 points.