Texas Tech @ Iowa State preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 16, 2019 ) Iowa State 68, Texas Tech 64

Eighth-ranked Texas Tech looks to extend its winning streak to nine games and gain at least a share of its first Big 12 regular-season title when it visits No. 25 Iowa State on Saturday afternoon. The Red Raiders have already set a club record with 13 league wins after rolling over Texas 70-51 in their home finale on Monday and come into the weekend tied with Kansas State atop to Big 12.

“It feels great, honestly,” Texas Tech senior center Norense Odiase told reporters. “We have worked so hard for this moment to be 40 minutes away from the championship. We just lock in every possession, every practice, and every walk through. It is paying off right now, so it feels good.” The Red Raiders trail the all-time series 20-14 after suffering their only home loss this season 68-64 on Jan.16 against the Cyclones, who were in the running for the Big 12 title until losing four of the last five contests. The first two defeats in that stretch were close games against Baylor and TCU, but Iowa State has dropped the last two versus Texas and West Virginia by a combined 32 points. “We were on top of the world three weeks ago, and we were playing really good basketball,” Cyclones senior guard Nick Weiler-Babb told reporters. “These last three weeks, like coach (Steve Prohm) said, have been tough. It’s frustrating for us. We were just playing well, and it just slipped.”

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (25-5, 13-4 Big 12): The Red Raiders are among the national leaders in scoring defense (58.2) and held their 12th opponent to fewer than 55 points Monday, causing coach Chris Beard to tell reporters: “Defense is our identity; it’s our DNA.” Jarrett Culver leads the team in scoring (17.9), rebounds (6.3) and assists (3.7) while fellow sophomore guard Davide Moretti averages 11.3 points after draining 18-of-27 shots from behind the arc the past six games. Senior guard Matt Mooney is the third on the team in scoring (10.8) after pouring in 15 versus Texas.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (20-10, 9-8): Senior guard Marial Shayok, who leads the team in scoring (18.7), missed the 90-75 loss to West Virginia on Wednesday with a foot injury and is questionable for the home finale. Sophomore guard Lindell Wigginton averaged 16.5 points over the last two games to raise his season mark to 13.2 while freshman guard Talen Horton-Tucker (12.1 points) is just 5-of-20 from the field the past two contests. Michael Jacobson is the fourth player scoring in double figures (11.5) and the junior forward tops the team in rebounds (5.6).

TIP-INS

1. The Cyclones lead the Big 12 in scoring (77.9), field-goal percentage (47.8) and free-throw percentage (73.2).

2. Texas Tech F Tariq Owens has a league-high 72 blocks, which broke the club record of Tony Battie (71) set in 1996-97.

3. Iowa State freshman G Tyrese Haliburton scored 12 points against West Virginia after totaling 10 the previous three games.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 72, Iowa State 64