LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech interim coach Chris Walker lauded his team even after it was routed by No. 17 Oklahoma State 91-67 on Wednesday night.
Players kept hustling and he thinks that's going to pay off down the stretch this season.
"Obviously, there's a lot of things we could point the finger at, but they're never going to die, they're going to keep playing," Walker said. "I just believe, at the end of the day when it's all said and done, we just have to be a team in these next eight games that shows improvement."
Markel Brown scored 25 points and matched a career high with seven 3-pointers — all in the first half — to lead the Cowboys.
Red Raiders players were caught off guard.
"We (weren't) mentally prepared for (anything) like that," Josh Gray said. "That's what happens when you play against a great team and you're not prepared, not focused."
Phil Forte added 14 points for the Cowboys (18-5, 8-3 Big 12), who have won six straight.
Brown was 8 for 11 from the field, including 7 of 8 from beyond the arc. He was held scoreless in 7 minutes of playing time after halftime.
Brown's first five shots were from beyond the arc and he hit each one, matching the number of 3s he had in the first half of the Cowboys' win at Kansas this month.
Oklahoma State jumped out to a 24-6 lead and never trailed, though Texas Tech pulled to 26-18 midway through the first half thanks to a 10-0 run.
Dusty Hannahs scored 14 points and Gray added nine for Texas Tech (9-13, 2-9), which lost its fifth straight.
Brown's final 3-pointer of the game came right before halftime and gave the Cowboys a 55-34 lead. He also hit both free throws he attempted.
Oklahoma State shot 56 percent from the field (32 of 57) and 60 percent from 3-point range.
Cowboys sophomore Michael Cobbins had his first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Forte was flawless from the line, hitting all five free throw attempts.
By the time Brown had five 3s, Texas Tech had only four field goals.
Oklahoma State scored its most points in a Big 12 game this season, while the Red Raiders gave up the most points they have allowed all season.
Even as Brown was hitting from outside, the Cowboys also worked the ball inside, getting 26 points in the paint to Texas Tech's 18.
As they have all season, turnovers cost the Red Raiders, who committed 14.
The young Texas Tech team was just overmatched throughout the game and its shooting woes continued. The Red Raiders hit 20 of 54 from the field.
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