Lamar Cardinals vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024

Preview and Prediction

Texas Tech and visiting Lamar will both conclude their pre-Christmas schedule with a Saturday afternoon game in Lubbock, Texas. Both teams are looking to gain momentum for their upcoming conference seasons.

Lamar (6-5) is currently on a five-game winning streak, with four of those victories coming on the road. Meanwhile, Texas Tech (8-2) has been dominant at home this season, winning all seven games by an average of 30 points.

In their most recent game, Texas Tech defeated Oral Roberts 86-50 in a strong bounce-back performance after losing to then-No. 22 Texas A&M on December 8th. The Red Raiders shot an impressive 53.1 percent from the field in this game, their most efficient offensive performance since mid-November. Federiko Federiko, who stepped into the starting lineup for the injured JT Toppin, led the team with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Toppin, who is the Red Raiders' leading scorer (18.6 points) and rebounder (11.0), has missed the last three games due to a lower leg injury. His status for Saturday's game is still uncertain.

"Now that JT is out, someone needs to step up," Federiko said. "I'm trying to take on that role until he is back and healthy."

Lamar will present a challenge for Texas Tech with their big man Andrew Holifield. In the Cardinals' current four-game road winning streak, Holifield has been averaging 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, along with 11 blocks.

However, both teams heavily rely on their backcourts. Texas Tech's Chance McMillian has been on fire, scoring 65 points in the last three games. He currently leads the Big 12 in 3-point shooting at 53.8 percent (28 of 52). Lamar's dynamic guard Alexis Marmolejos has also been impressive, scoring in double digits in all but one game this season and leading the team with an average of 16.3 points per game. He has made 25 of 61 shots from beyond the arc (41.0 percent).

Although Lamar started the season with a 1-5 record, they have not lost a game since November 24th. In their four-game road winning streak, they have defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Louisiana, and Southern Miss.

"We have a lot of respect for the way they are playing right now," said Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland. "Winning four straight road games shows that they have a great game plan and are playing at a high level. They have been improving their program every year. This team we are facing is capable of beating any team on any given night."

PREDICTION

Lamar Cardinals

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Lamar Cardinals vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Recap DEC 21TH 2024

Texas Tech blew open a close game Saturday with an extended run early in the first half and never looked back, walloping visiting Lamar 101-57 in the nonconference matchup in Lubbock, Texas.

With the score knotted 7-7 after Lamar's Ja'Sean Jackson nailed a 3-pointer at the 16:54 mark of the first half, Texas Tech (9-2) ran away from the Cardinals (6-6) with a 21-2 surge over 7:35.

Kevin Overton and Darrion Williams were major keys during the Red Raiders' run, combining for 11 points. Each of them scored 13 in the first half, which ended with Texas Tech ahead 49-22 on their way to their highest team point total since December 2022.

In eight home nonconference games this season, Texas Tech is unbeaten and has outscored foes by an average of 31.8 points.

Lamar's five-game winning streak ended in large part because of poor shooting. The Cardinals hit three of their first five shots but then went 1 of 11 and ended the day shooting 32.9 percent (23 of 70). They made only 29.4 percent in the first half, when they had nearly as many turnovers (9) as field goals (10).

Texas Tech got a hot hand during the run, connecting on 7-of-12 from the floor, and never cooled off much. Buoyed by Williams (7-of-13), Overton (6-of-11) and Chance McMillian (7-of-11), the Red Raiders finished the day hitting 55.4 percent (36 of 65) from the floor and went 13 of 29 from long range. Texas Tech also dominated in paint points 40-24.

Williams led the Red Raiders with 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Christian Anderson came off the bench to provide a season-best 20 points, McMillian scored 19 and Overton finished with 17.

Alexis Marmolejos paced Lamar with 11 points and Jackson added 10. The Cardinals collected 36 rebounds, 18 on each end of the court, and turned their offensive work into 21 second-chance points. Lamar's Andrew Holifield pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.