With Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes watching, Texas Tech beats Nebraska at Sprint Center

With Kansas City’s leading Texas Tech fan cheering from a courtside seat, the Red Raiders raced to the Hall of Fame Classic championship with a 70-52 victory over Nebraska on Tuesday.

One night earlier, Cornhuskers fans were among those who hung around Sprint Center watching the final moments of the Chiefs’ wild 54-51 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and rooting for quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the televisions in the concourse.

On Tuesday, they were on opposite sides, as Mahomes and girlfriend Brittany Matthews pulled for the school he attended. He even took part in a T-shirt throw.

“He’s such an ambassador for Texas Tech,” Red Raiders Coach Chris Beard said. “Everybody in this state understands how talented he is, and what a great person he is, but like we tell our guys, don’t every forget where you come from. He might be the best example I’ve ever seen. He goes above and beyond anything Texas Tech asks him to do.”

Mahomes was a happy fan as the Red Raiders built upon their six-point halftime lead.

A key sequence occurred early in the half when Norense Odiase missed the second of two free throws but teammate Brandone Francis outhustled the Huskers for the rebound. Jarrett Culver finished the possession with a jumper.

Moments later, Culver added a three-pointer for a 10-point lead with 11 minutes remaining.

Mahomes was thrilled. Nebraska fans, who made up the bulk of the crowd, not so much. The Huskers couldn’t generate much offense in the second half.

Tech (5-0) returned two starters from last year’s team that reached the program’s first Elite Eight. The Red Raiders were picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 this season, but victories over Southern California and Nebraska were impressive enough to suggest they’re undervalued.

They’ll build around Culver, named the tournament’s most valuable player after finishing with 26 points on Tuesday. Culver, a 6-7 sophomore, scores in a variety of ways and should be considered among the best in the Big 12. It’s safe to suggest Beard believes Culver was undersold as a preseason honorable mention All-Big 12 selection.

“I think Jarrett Culver is one of the best players in college basketball,” Beard said. “He’s kind of an unknown in some parts of college basketball but not for long. The guy can really play.”

USC 99, Missouri State 80

Missouri State understood the challenge. The Bears would face two opponents from major conferences with more experience and athleticism. First-year Missouri State men’s basketball coach Dana Ford looked for small signs of progress.

In the opener on Monday against Nebraska, he liked his team’s approach for 30 minutes.

On Tuesday against Southern California, the Bears looked to reduce turnovers, and that happened. In a 99-80 loss in the third-place game, the Bears committed 12, but two were in garbage time.

“I told our guys there’s nothing to hang their heads about,” Ford said. “We just lost to two teams that are deep and veteran.”

Not that a Missouri Valley team can’t knock off a major. Just ask Loyola-Chicago, which advanced to the Final Four last year with victories over, among others, Tennessee and Kansas State.

But these Bears also are starting over.

“We’re a new team with newcomers playing against teams that can physically outmatch us,” Ford said.

The new team part is especially true. According to Missouri State, only three Division I teams return fewer than the Bears’ three lettermen from last year.

Trailing by 17 at halftime, Missouri State attempted to win the second half. It almost happened. The Bears were outscored by two.

Ford believed his team lacked energy early and it especially showed up on the defensive end. Too often Southern California found paths to the basket or unchallenged deep looks. For the game, the Trojans shot 57 percent on all shots and 52 percent (17 of 33) on threes.

The Bears countered with a trio of double-digit scorers, led by Ryan Kreklow with a career-best 23. KeAndre Cook added 21 and Jarred Dixon 17.

Missouri State is in for a roster infusion. On Dec. 15, Jared Ridder, a 6-7 forward from Springfield, becomes eligible after transferring from Xavier. Ridder was the state’s top-ranked prospect in 2017, according to one scouting service.

Until then, the Bears will take the lessons of the Hall of Fame Classic and apply them in their next game, Saturday at Murray State.

“More like a Valley team,” Ford said..

Blair Kerkhoff

Blair Kerkhoff covers the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals and college sports for The Star.

This story was originally published November 20, 2018 at 9:42 PM.