LUBBOCK — Phillip Jones set career highs and neared a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds, but Texas Tech shot 54 percent to notch a 94-64 win over UTSA on Friday night at United Spirit Arena.
Jones nearly matched his best outing of 11 points, which was set on Tuesday at Nicholls, with 10 in 14 first-half minutes for the Roadrunners (1-6). The redshirt freshman from Freeport, Bahamas, finished 4-of-6 from the field and free-throw line off the bench.
Kaj-Björn Sherman also registered a career high with 11 points to go along with three rebounds off the bench for UTSA, which got 41 points from its reserves. Jordan Sims added 10 points in the second half to reach double-figures for the fourth consecutive game and fifth time this season.
In addition, George Matthews notched a career-high nine points.
UTSA shot 44.1 percent in the second half and 37.7 percent for the contest. The Roadrunners scored 32 points in the paint and collected seven steals.
Meanwhile, Jaye Crockett went 8-of-10 from the floor and scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Red Raiders (6-2). Randy Onwuasor added 15 points, while Aaron Ross and Jordan Tolbert chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Red Raiders scored 54 points in the paint and held a 39-29 advantage on the glass.
Edrico McGregor put the Roadrunners up early with a basket inside, but the quick 2-0 lead would prove to be UTSA’s only advantage of the night.
The Red Raiders answered with a pair of baskets before Keon Lewis drove inside for a layup to knot the score. Three more points from Ross put Texas Tech up 7-4, but Jones provided the game’s final tie with an old-fashioned three-point play with 12:22 to go in the opening half.
The home squad started to get some separation with seven consecutive points and the brief run was cut off by five points from Jones to trim the Texas Tech lead to 17-12.
Minutes later, free throws from Devon Agusi and Jones pulled the Roadrunners within 21-16, but Texas Tech closed the half on a 16-5 run over the final six minutes and took a 37-20 advantage to halftime.
Texas Tech opened the second half with a 7-0 run that ended with the first of three 3-pointers from Sims.
The Red Raiders’ lead did not dip below 20 the rest of the way and they cruised to the 94-64 win.
The Roadrunners will return to the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Dec. 4, for a 7 p.m. matchup with Huston-Tillotson (0-8).