Kansas @ Texas Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 2, 2019 ) Texas Tech 63, Kansas 79

Despite sitting only one game out of first place in the Big 12, time is running out for No. 12 Kansas and No. 14 Texas Tech to catch league-leading Kansas State with only a handful of games remaining. The Red Raiders hope to deliver a sizable blow to the Jayhawks' chances of earning a 15th consecutive regular-season title and avenge their only loss over the last month when Kansas visits Saturday.

Texas Tech has rebounded from a three-game slide in mid-January by winning six of seven, suffering its only loss over that time when the Jayhawks raced out to a 20-point halftime lead at home before settling for a 79-63 victory on Feb. 2. The Red Raiders have been dominant since that defeat, winning by an average of 24 points during their four-game winning streak - including last Saturday's 86-61 rout of Baylor. Kansas' ability to remain in the Big 12 race figures to be determined over the next three days, as Bill Self's squad attempts to improve on its 2-6 road record in this contest before hosting Kansas State on Monday in what could be a battle for sole possession of first place in the conference. The Jayhawks are coming off arguably their best defensive effort during league action, forcing 24 turnovers and holding a Big 12 foe under 60 points for the first time this season with last Saturday's 78-53 win over West Virginia.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT KANSAS (20-6, 9-4 Big 12): Playing in the shadow of brother Dedric for the bulk of his college career, junior K.J. Lawson came off the bench and set season highs with 15 points, three 3-pointers and 24 minutes of playing time versus the Mountaineers, which came on the heels of his first double-figure scoring performance of the season five days earlier against TCU. "I'm real happy for him, and it's nice to see guys hang in there, and when their number is called they're ready, and he's been ready," Self told reporters. Marcus Garrett (high-ankle sprain), who has missed the last five games, returned to practice Monday; Self told the Kansas City Star on Tuesday he anticipates the sophomore guard will be "pretty limited" if he plays against Texas Tech.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (21-5, 9-4): Jarrett Culver (team-high marks of 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists) ranks third in the conference in scoring but endured one of his worst outings of the season at Kansas, which limited him to 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting. Fellow sophomore guard Davide Moretti (10.9 points) owns the third-best 3-point percentage in the league during Big 12 play at 47.7 percent and is 16-for-30 beyond the arc over the last six contests with at least three 3-pointers in five of his last seven. Tariq Owens (8.4 points, conference-leading 2.4 blocks) has reached double figures in six conference outings - four in non-conference action - and posted one of his two double-doubles of the season in the first meeting with 12 points and 10 boards.

TIP-INS

1. The Red Raiders are 47-5 at home under third-year coach Chris Beard but 0-2 against Kansas over that time in United Supermarkets Arena.

2. The Jayhawks' 79 points in the first meeting were the most allowed by Texas Tech this season.

3. The Red Raiders have buried at least 10 3-pointers in each of the last three contests, matching their total from the first 23 games.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 75, Kansas 65