Short-handed Texas Tech pulled off the upset over #12 K-State on Saturday by a final score of 71-63.

The first half started with both teams trading very rare baskets. Both teams shot poorly despite getting opportunities.

The story of the first half was K-State turnovers. They committed 14 in the opening 20 minutes with the Red Raiders scoring 17 points off of them. Coming into the game, KSU averaged 14 per game.

The Wildcats’ top scorers Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell were liabilities in the first half with them combining for only 20% from the floor.

The three-pointers weren’t dropping despite good looks as they shot just 25% with two of their three makes coming from Ish Massoud.

K-State only shot 55% from the free-throw line on their nine attempts.

The Red Raiders were able to take advantage of the poorly-performing Cats and finished the half on a 10-1 run to go up 33-26 at the break. It was one of their first halves of the entire regular season, but they were still very much in the ballgame.

The second half was a better showing, but not by much.

They were able to make it a close game, but their biggest playmakers were unable to get buckets when they trailed by one possession at multiple points in the second half.

Nowell shot 5-for-19 in total and 1-for-10 from beyond the arc but still led the team in points with 18 thanks to seven free throw makes. Johnson was 3-for-11 shooting with nine points.

Desi Sills has stepped in the past few games and was second in scoring with 12 points going 5-for-9.

K-State’s turnover total ballooned to 23 at the end of the game.

With the loss, K-State has now lost four of their last five Big 12 games with their conference record dropping to 7-5 and 19-6 overall. Texas Tech improves to 2-10 in Big 12 play and 13-12 overall.

K-State’s odds of contending for a Big 12 title are slipping with Texas winning again on Saturday against West Virginia to get their conference record to 9-3.

K-State will need to get back right at Oklahoma (2-10, 12-13) on Tuesday. The Cats have not played the Sooners yet this season despite it already being mid-February. The Wildcats are just 3-5 on the road this season.