University Sports: Texas Tech's defense continues to impress as Red Raiders beat Buffalo to switch to another Sweet 16

The score of the box

3rd seeded Texas Tech (27-6) returned to Sweet 16 for the fourth time in its history. The Red Raiders beat No. 6 seed Buffalo (32-4) 78-58 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK.

The Red Raiders move away in the second half and qualify for the Sweet 16

There was a moment in the first half of Tech's game against Buffalo that may have scared the Red Raiders, but Tech fully exploited his potential to keep his 2018-19 season alive.

The Red Raiders created a strong lead in the second half after taking a 33-25 advantage at the end of the first period.

Technology capitalized on revenue for more than doubling its score during the closing period. The Red Raiders beat their opponent 45-33 to win a 20-point victory, their 28th win of the season.

The Red Raiders defend their sound early, avoid the fear of the first half

First player of the year, Jarrett Culver, the first player in the history of the program to win this honor, kicked off a first-round 6-0 for the Red Raiders. The race allowed Texas Tech to set the tempo at the start.

Tech sometimes had a double-digit advantage in the first half – until Buffalo, whose offense ranks fourth in the NCAA, challenges Tech with the time that elapses before half-time.

In fact, the Bulls could take advantage at 3:22 early in the period. Buffalo wiped out his deficit and junior guard Davonta Jordan hit a 23-foot 3-pointers to give his team its first lead of the evening at 25-24.

The Red Raiders were hard to keep, though. Tech held the scoreless Bulls after Jordan's shot and scored 9 points in the last three minutes to lead 33-25 to the locker room. The Red Raider senior striker, Tariq Owens, second class guard David Moretti, senior guard Matt Mooney and Culver all put their hands in the aforementioned attack. Culver finished the match with 16 points, a team-high.

Tech makes a round trip to Sweet 16

The Red Raiders reached Elite 8 a year ago and are replicated with a second consecutive appearance in Sweet 16 for the first time in its history. In total, Tech has earned a place in the Sweet 16 four times in the history of Red Raider.

Tech, who claims the No. 3 defenseman title in the NCAA, has the chance to equal or improve his 2017-18 season.

Out of the last season's Red Raiders tournament team, Culver has once again become one of Tech's main threats during the attack. In the Red Raider's 72-57 win over Northern Kentucky, seeded number 14, in the first round of the tournament, Culver set a team record with 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, a block and a flight – with the 29 points being the most in a post-season game for a player at Tech.

Odiase takes charge under the net

Red Raider's senior center, Norense Odiase, has won a second chance for Buffalo, while giving his team an opportunity to redeem missed opportunities. He finished the game with double-digit rebounds.

In the first half alone, Odiase recorded eight rebounds. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound athlete took advantage of his towering stature to take the best of the Bulls under the net. He finished the competition with 15 rebounds in total.

Odiase has 107 career starts and played 122 games after Sunday's competition. Entering the game against the Bulls, he averaged 4.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks from a party during his last campaign with the Red Raiders.

He will be a key part of the Tech program on both sides of the ball.

The Red Raider defense continues to impress

The No. 3 ranked Tech Defense was one of its characteristic attributes most of the season, and no exceptions were made Sunday night.

After the win against the Bulls – which averaged more than 80 points per game this season – the Red Raiders were less than 55 points behind five opponents and allowed just five teams to score more than 70 points .

Entering the game against Buffalo, Tech has limited his opponents to 63.3 points per game in his last 10 games.

The Red Raiders have used their greatest strength against the Bulls.

Who is Tech waiting for in the first round of Sweet 16?

Tech has a short time to celebrate its progress in the third round of the NCAA Tournament with its nearby Sweet 16 match. The Red Raiders will face No. 2 Michigan (30-6) at an hour left to be determined Thursday in Anaheim, California. in the Western Regional Semifinal.