West Virginia @ Texas Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2019 ) Texas Tech 62, West Virginia 59

With West Virginia riding a three-game losing streak and dropping eight of nine overall, freshman reserve guard Brandon Knapper picked up his team by scoring a career-high 25 points in a 79-71 win over Oklahoma on Saturday. The Mountaineers will seek their first winning streak since late December on Monday night when they travel to play a 15th-ranked Texas Tech squad that is reeling after a beat down at No. 12 Kansas.

Knapper, who entered Saturday averaging 4.5 points per game with seven more turnovers than assists, shot 7-of-10 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc, and drained a 3-pointer along with six consecutive free throws in the closing minutes to help seal the victory. "I think we’ve all been waiting on it. His problem has been ball security. He’s thrown the ball everywhere. He did a good job today under some tough circumstances. He got double-teamed at the end and did a good job stepping to the double-team like he was supposed to." West Virginia coach Bob Huggins told reporters of Knapper. Texas Tech had hoped its mini three-game losing streak was behind it after consecutive wins, but the Red Raiders trailed by 20 at the half as star guard Jarrett Culver was held in check in the 79-63 defeat at Kansas. Texas Tech won in Morgantown, W.V. for the first time ever after six losses 62-59 on Jan. 2, a game in which the teams combined for 50 fouls and 35 turnovers - 22 by Tech.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (10-12, 2-7 Big 12): Knapper got plenty of help from his frontline, as freshman center Derek Culver finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds in his first start while Esa Ahmad scored 12 and grabbed 13 rebounds and Wesley Harris contributed 13 points along with seven boards. "Thirty-four rebounds from our frontline, that's awfully good," Huggins told reporters. "I thought it was the best effort combined from those three we've had all year." West Virginia outrebounded Oklahoma 46-30, and Ahmad, Culver and Harris combined for 16 of the team's 18 offensive boards.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (17-5, 5-4): Culver (18.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists) had one of his worst games of the season Saturday, scoring just 10 on 5-of-17 shooting - missing all six of his 3-point attempts and committing five turnovers. The Jayhawks made a season-high 13 3-pointers while the Red Raiders shot 34.4 percent from the floor, including 6-of-28 from the arc. Forward Tariq Owens (8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks) posted his second double-double of the season with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, while guard Davide Moretti had three 3-pointers for the third straight game and led the team with 14 points.

TIP-INS

1. In the first contest against West Virginia this season, Culver had 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting with six rebounds, G Matt Mooney chipped in 14 and Moretti had 12 for Tech.

2. Mountaineers G James Bolden (12.2 points per contest) has missed the last two games with an injured ankle.

3. West Virginia's Culver (11.2 points, 8.3 rebounds), who was suspended for the first 10 contests, has posted four double-doubles in 12 games while averaging 23.3 minutes per game.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 69, West Virginia 63