Oklahoma @ Texas Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 9, 2019 ) Texas Tech 66, Oklahoma 54

Chris Beard wished for better than a 1-2 record over the last week, but he certainly sounded like a coach proud of his Texas Tech squad after it completed what figures to be the most difficult stretch it will face this season. After playing three consecutive Top 25 foes, the Red Raiders take on the first of eight straight unranked opponents beginning Tuesday when they host Oklahoma.

Texas Tech split a pair of home games - losing in overtime to No. 16 Kentucky on Jan. 25 and defeating No. 11 West Virginia four days later - before giving third-ranked Kansas a scare in Lawrence in Saturday's 78-75 setback. "To be missing two of our top seven or eight players (Chris Clarke and Kevin McCuller) and then come in here and get into a one-possession game, I think that speaks pretty clearly on how valiant we were," Beard told reporters. The Sooners moved into a four-way tie for fourth place in the conference - joining the Red Raiders - following Saturday's 82-69 home victory over Oklahoma State. Oklahoma desperately needs to find a way to end its three-game losing streak to Texas Tech, as three of its next five games after this contest will be against the top three teams in the Big 12 (No. 1 Baylor, Kansas and West Virginia).

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (14-7, 4-4 Big 12): Brady Manek (team-high 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds) had the hot hand early against the Cowboys' zone defense, erupting for 17 points in the first eight minutes en route to scoring 22 of his 30 points in the first half while tying a career high with seven 3-pointers. While Kristian Doolittle (14.4, 8.8) failed to reach double figures for a fourth straight time Saturday, he tallied six points to become the 47th player in school history to reach 1,000 for his career and added 10 boards to go with a career-high seven assists. Austin Reaves (14.6, 5.3) committed five turnovers but otherwise enjoyed his finest all-around performance of the year, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (13-8, 4-4): Jahmi'us Ramsey ranks fourth in the conference in scoring (15.9 points) and boosted that average with 21 points versus the Mountaineers and 26 against the Jayhawks, leading him to earn Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season on Monday. Beard called the performance of TJ Holyfield (9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, team-high 1.2 blocks) "dynamite" after the graduate transfer posted 19 points and eight boards - both marks tied or set personal bests in conference play - to along with a season-high four blocks despite playing hurt. Freshman Terrence Shannon Jr. (11.9 points, 4.7 boards), who collected a season-high 11 rebounds Saturday, averaged 14.3 points and seven boards during the team's three-game run against ranked opponents.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Texas Tech is 20-for-38 outside the arc over the last two games. In their previous two games, the Red Raiders shot a combined 7-for-36 from 3-point range.

2. Since a 66-52 loss to Kansas in Norman on Jan. 14, the Sooners have averaged 82.5 points in their two conference wins (both at home) and 55 points in their two league losses (both on the road).

3. Clarke (ankle) attempted to play Saturday but was limited to six minutes, while McCuller (concussion-like symptoms) has missed the last two games. The status of both players for Tuesday is uncertain.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 78, Oklahoma 65