Pop Isaacs scores 19 points, leads balanced Texas Tech to 76-54 victory over Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt forward Carter Lang, left, has his shot blocked by Texas Tech guard Kerwin Walton (24) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez
FORT WORTH, Texas — Pop Isaacs matched a season best with 19 points to go with a career-high seven assists and Texas Tech cruised past Vanderbilt 76-54 on Saturday night in the Coast-to-Coast Challenge.
Isaacs was 6 of 16 from the floor, made three 3-pointers and has scored in double figures in seven games this season.
Chance McMillian added 14 points for Texas Tech (8-2), which shot 49% (26 of 53) and made 9 of 16 from long range. Joe Toussaint and Kerwin Walton added 12 points apiece.
Ven-Allen Lubin scored 15 points to lead Vanderbilt (4-6).
Texas Tech opened on a 13-3 run and built a 33-25 halftime lead. Isaacs made three 3-pointers, scored 11 points and had four assists before the break. Warren Washington added all nine of his points in the first half for the Red Raiders.
Toussaint's step-back jumper stretched the advantage to 48-36 with 11:48 remaining, and the Red Raiders had a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Vanderbilt leads the series (6-3), but it is the first meeting since an 89-86 Texas Tech win in overtime on Dec. 20, 1979.
Texas Tech forward Warren Washington (22) is fouled taking a shot by Vanderbilt guard Evan Taylor, back, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez
Vanderbilt plays at home on Tuesday against Western Carolina. Texas Tech will look for its fourth straight win when it hosts UT Arlington on Thursday.
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