Iowa State @ Texas Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 9, 2019 ) Texas Tech 80, Iowa State 73

Texas Tech have emerged from some tough waters and tries for its second straight victory when it hosts Iowa State on Saturday in a Big 12 game. The No. 23 Red Raiders lost to No. 2 Baylor 57-52 on Jan. 7 and at No. 17 West Virginia 66-54 on Jan. 11 before righting the ship with a 77-53 victory at Kansas State on Tuesday, and hope to enjoy more success against the Cyclones.

“I feel like we’re coming together,” Texas Tech freshman guard Kevin McCullar told reporters about his team, which has 10 newcomers after reaching the 2019 Final Four. “Every game we’re just learning and improving.” Red Raiders sophomore guard Kyler Edwards exploded for a career-high 24 points and shot 9-for-14 from the field - 3-for-4 from 3-point range, telling the media: "I am just trying to take the best shots I could for my team.” Iowa State is coming off a 68-55 loss at No. 2 Baylor on Wednesday and has dropped four of its last five games. Sophomore Tyrese Haliburton paces the Cyclones with 15.9 points per game but scored only six against Baylor on 2-for-12 shooting - 2-for-9 from 3-point range, telling the media: “You just have those days. They all felt good, but they weren’t going in. I don’t know what it was. I was making shots in warmups. I was making shots in shootaround.”

TIME: 4 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU

ABOUT IOWA STATE (8-8, 1-3 Big 12): Haliburton contributed nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals against Baylor, raising his season numbers to team highs of 7.8 assists - fifth nationally entering Thursday - 6.1 boards and 2.7 steals. Sophomore guard Rasir Bolton scores 14.8 per game but is averaging 18 points while shooting 50 percent from the 3-point range in the last five games. Sophomore forward George Conditt IV records 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game but hasn't reached his scoring average in the last three contests.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (11-5, 2-2): Freshman guard Jahmi'us Ramsey averages a team-best 16.3 points but totaled only 18 over the previous two games while shooting 7-for-26 from the field. McCullar (4.4 points in 13.5 minutes) spearheaded a key 13-2 run and has averaged eight points, 4.5 rebounds and 18 minutes in his last two contests. Freshman guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (11.4 points, 4.6 rebounds) missed his second straight game Tuesday and remains day-to-day, according to fifth-year coach Chris Beard.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Red Raiders are 8-1 at home this season and 58-6 under Beard while the Cyclones are 0-3 in true road games in 2019-20.

2. Texas Tech and Iowa lead the Big-12 with 266 assists apiece.

3. The clubs have split their last four meetings with the road team winning both encounters last season.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 66, Iowa State 60