The Texas Tech Red Raiders are a long way from home — but just one win from the Final Four — after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 78-65 on Friday, March 23, in Boston in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Red Raiders covered the spread as 1.5-point underdogs, and the game went over the total of 138.5.
The Red Raiders will move on to face Villanova in the East Region final on Sunday, March 25, with the winner advancing to the Final Four in San Antonio. The odds for that matchup will soon be released by BetDSI Sportsbook, but we anticipate Villanova being favored as the region’s top seed.
Game information
Keenan Evans led four Texas Tech players in double-figure scoring with 16 points. He didn’t shoot well from the field at 3 of 8 but made up for it with 9-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line. Zach Smith had 14 points off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting. Zhaire Smith scored 13 points and Justin Gray added 12 on 6-of-8 shooting.
Purdue’s Carsen Edwards was the game’s star in a losing effort. He scored 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting. Vincent Edwards had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. The Boilermakers played without star center Isaac Haas, who broke his elbow in the tournament’s first round and stayed on the bench despite rumors he might play with a brace.
Texas Tech shot 47.5 percent from the floor, and Purdue shot 44.8 percent. The Boilermakers made 7 of 18 on 3-pointers and Texas Tech was just 5 of 17, but the Red Raiders made up for it at the free-throw line. They were 17 of 18, while Purdue made 6 of 6.
The score was 30-25 Red Raiders at halftime, on pace to go well under the total, but a second half that totaled 88 points ultimately sent it over.
Looking forward
Texas Tech’s odds to win the NCAA Tournament were a robust +4500, according to BetDSI. Their next opponent, Villanova, was the pre-tournament favorite to cut down the nets in San Antonio at +400. The game’s winner will face another pre-tournament favorite in the Final Four, either Duke (+550) or Kansas (+1700).
