Anderson’s hot start helps Oklahoma State charge past No. 22 Texas Tech 81-52

Cowboys open Big 12 with huge win over No. 22 Tech

STILLWATER, Okla. — James Anderson scored 25 of his 28 points in the first half and Oklahoma State surged past No. 22 Texas Tech midway through the first half on its way to an 81-52 victory Saturday night.

Anderson, the Big 12’s scoring leader, had 16 points during a 29-1 charge in the first half that turned a six-point deficit into a commanding 44-22 lead for the Cowboys (13-2, 1-0 Big 12). He also hit a 3-pointer to finish a string of 10 straight points for OSU to put the game out of reach at 73-45 with 6:10 to play.

Ray Penn and Obi Muonelo each added 12 points and reserve Matt Pilgrim scored 11 as Oklahoma State won its fourth straight Big 12 opener.

Mike Singletary scored 13 points and David Tairu had 10 points off the bench for Texas Tech (12-3, 0-1), which had its lowest scoring total of the season and committed a season-high 21 turnovers.

John Roberson, Tech’s second-leading scorer with a 13.9-point average, was held scoreless for the first time this season on 0-for-5 shooting.

The Red Raiders had been one of the surprises in the conference this season after finishing 11th in the Big 12 last season and getting picked near the bottom of the league in the preseason. Instead, they rolled into the Top 25 on the strength of an upset of Washington in nonconference play.

Texas Tech scored the first six points of the game and opened a 16-7 lead before Anderson started bringing the Cowboys back with a 3-pointer and a three-point play on consecutive possessions.

He then hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark Oklahoma State’s huge run and had 21 of the team’s first 27 points, including a steal that led to a right-handed, fast-break dunk. The Red Raiders went more than 8 minutes between baskets as their deficit kept growing.

It was the seventh straight loss for Tech in Gallagher-Iba Arena.