LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - It had been seven years since Texas Tech drew a sellout crowd at home. The arena was packed Saturday night, though, and that fueled the Red Raiders to their second win over a Top 25 team in less than a month.
Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith was ecstatic about the 65-61 victory over No. 19 Oklahoma State and said it was “amazing” to see the building full.
“We’ve been an underdog in every game we’ve played pretty much and we finally found a way to win,” he said. “I think it validates that we’re moving in the right direction and I think the fans feel that and the administration feels that and I feel that way, and our players are starting to believe and play with that type of confidence. We believe we can play with anyone.”
Jaye Crockett scored 21 points and tied his season high with 12 rebounds to lead Texas Tech, which handed the Cowboys (16-7, 4-6 Big 12) their fourth straight loss. But things got wild in the waning moments, when Oklahoma State star Marcus Smart shoved a fan behind the basket.
Smart tried to block Crockett’s dunk attempt from behind with 6.2 seconds to go and tumbled into the front row of the crowd.
He was helped to his feet by one man but then got in the face of another, Jeff Orr, who travels thousands of miles each year to attend Texas Tech basketball games, according to athletic department spokesman Blayne Beal.
Orr appeared to say something to Smart, who then shoved him with two hands. Orr stumbled backward a bit but didn’t fall.
Teammates quickly pulled an angry Smart away from the fracas, and he pointed back in the direction of Orr. Smart was called for a technical foul but was not ejected. He remained on the bench until the final buzzer.
As fans stormed the court to celebrate Texas Tech’s win, Smart was escorted off the floor by a man wearing Oklahoma State colors - with a uniformed police officer trailing right behind.
A unanimous selection to the preseason All-America team, Smart could face discipline from the Big 12. Texas Tech spokesman Trenten Hilburn said John Underwood, the conference’s associate commissioner for basketball, said the league would review the situation.
Smith said he turned away from the play and didn’t see the altercation.
“You really have to find the film to see what happened,” he said. “I assume the officials saw what happened. That’s why he got a technical out of it. The frustration when you’re losing sometimes on a losing streak, I’ve been there before, it can be tough. I’m sure he regrets doing that, whatever he did, so things like that happen in the heat of the battle.”
The game was tied at 61 when Crockett hit the go-ahead shot with 41 seconds remaining. Oklahoma State’s Le’Bryan Nash lost the ball in the lane, and Crockett raced toward the basket at the other end.
Smart knocked the ball away and was called for a foul, then pushed Orr and drew the technical. Dusty Hannahs and Crockett each made one of two free throws for the final margin.
“We needed this win tonight,” Crockett said. “The fans were great, they gave us a lot of energy. Hopefully we can get them to come out and realize that they’re helping us win these games.”
The Red Raiders (12-11, 4-6) earned their second victory over a ranked team in the past month. They beat then-No. 12 Baylor in January.
“Fifteen turnovers is extremely uncharacteristic of us, and crucial turnovers at crucial times throughout the game really, really hurt us,” OSU coach Travis Ford said. “It’s tough, especially the last two games coming down to the wire and other teams making some big plays and we just don’t come up with it.”
Smart scored 22 points and Phil Forte had 15 to lead the Cowboys.
Considered one of the best all-around players in the country, Smart has showed frustration more than once during an inconsistent season.
The sophomore guard got off to a fantastic start, leading to speculation that he could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft this year. He has struggled in some recent games, though, including a four-point effort against West Virginia when he kicked a chair on the bench. That led to him apologizing to his teammates afterward.
The score was tied 13 times and the lead changed 12 times as each team put together runs throughout the game.
None of Texas Tech’s players had ever played before a sellout crowd at home. The last two at United Spirit Arena came in January 2007, including New Year’s Day when former Red Raiders coach Bob Knight got his 880th win to become the winningest coach in Division I.
This victory gave the Red Raiders as many Big 12 wins this season as they had the past two years combined.
Texas Tech went on an 8-2 run in the final 1:29 of the first half to lead 29-27 at the break. Oklahoma State’s point total for the half was a season low.
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