Texas Tech asserted its dominance over Lindenwood from the opening tip, cruising to a 98-60 victory at United Supermarkets Arena. The Red Raiders' Christian Anderson stole the show, recording a triple-double with 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. Anderson's impressive performance set the tone for the game, as Texas Tech built a commanding 58-30 lead by halftime.
The Red Raiders' high-powered offense showed no signs of slowing down in the second half, with Anderson continuing to dictate the pace of the game. Donovan Atwell chipped in with 22 points, providing a secondary scoring punch that Lindenwood struggled to contain. Meanwhile, the Lions' Mekhi Cooper did his best to keep his team afloat, scoring 15 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Milos Nenadic and Robert Lewis also contributed with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and 10 points and 12 rebounds, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Red Raiders' onslaught.
Texas Tech's 58-point first half was a clear indication of its superiority, as the team shot efficiently and moved the ball with precision. The Red Raiders' defense also deserves credit, holding Lindenwood to just 30 points in the first half and limiting the Lions to 30% shooting from the field. The second half was more of the same, with Texas Tech outscoring Lindenwood 40-30 to seal the 38-point victory.
With this win, Texas Tech improves to 16-4 on the season, solidifying its position as a top-20 team in the country. The Red Raiders' resume continues to grow, with this victory falling into Quadrant 4, a category that won't significantly boost their tournament profile but still demonstrates their ability to take care of business against lesser opponents. On the other hand, Lindenwood, now 12-9, sees its Quadrant 1 opportunities dwindle, making each upcoming game increasingly crucial for its tournament hopes.
The implications of this result are clear: Texas Tech is a force to be reckoned with, and its performance against Lindenwood only reinforces that notion. As the season progresses, the Red Raiders will face stiffer competition, but for now, they can take pride in their dominating win over the Lions. With Anderson at the helm, Texas Tech has the potential to make a deep run in the tournament, and this victory is just another stepping stone on that path. The Red Raiders' tournament chances continue to look promising, and with a strong finish to the season, they could find themselves in a favorable position come March.