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Kilicli scores career-high 25 as West Virginia holds off Texas Tech 66-64

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Texas Tech's Dejan Kravic (11) shoots over West Virginia's Deniz Kilicli, right, and Gary Browne (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, W.Va., on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/David Smith) (The Associated Press)

Texas Tech's Josh Gray, rear, fouls West Virginia's Juwan Staten during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, W.Va., on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/David Smith) (The Associated Press)

Deniz Kilicli scored a career-high 25 points as West Virginia held off a formidable comeback by Texas Tech for a 66-64 victory Saturday.

A potentially game-winning shot by the Red Raiders' Josh Gray hit the front of the rim at the buzzer.

The Mountaineers (13-12, 6-6 Big 12 Conference) were comfortably ahead 61-53 with 3:19 left, but Texas Tech (9-14, 2-10) made three 3-point shots in a span of 2:45 in an attempt to snap what is now a six-game losing streak.

Kilicli's point total surpassed his 22-point effort against Providence on Feb. 5, 2012, when both teams were in the Big East.

Eron Harris had 15 points for West Virginia. It was his ninth double-figures effort since being inserted into the starting lineup by coach Bob Huggins 10 games ago.

Texas Tech sixth-man Jaye Crockett had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.