MINNEAPOLIS – For those who thought the Texas Tech men’s basketball team played only defense, it’s time to meet Matt Mooney.
While the Red Raiders were locking down Michigan State on one end, the graduate transfer shooting guard was raining in 3s on the other, lifting Tech one win away from a title with a 61-51 victory over the Spartans on Saturday night in the Final Four.
Mooney matched his season-high with 22 points, including three 3-pointers over a span of three minutes to give Tech a 13-point lead midway through the second half.
With the kind of defense Texas Tech plays, it was too much to overcome, and now the Red Raiders are getting ready for another defensive battle, in a Monday final against Virginia and its vaunted pack line defense. The Cavaliers are a slight 1-point favorite, and the over/under was at 117 and falling late Saturday night.
Tech wins by doing just enough on the offensive end. On this night, Mooney did the major damage.