LUBBOCK, Texas (Interstat) — A dominant performance from beyond the arc and a commanding effort on the glass propelled Texas Tech to a decisive 80-63 victory over Milwaukee in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at a spirited United Spirit Arena.

A crowd of 13,126 watched as the Red Raiders, improving to 3-1 on the young season, used a blistering first-half shooting display to build a lead the Panthers could never seriously challenge. Texas Tech connected on 13 of its 31 attempts from three-point range, a 41.9 percent clip that starkly contrasted with Milwaukee’s frigid 4-of-17 performance from deep.

The game’s trajectory was set early. After Milwaukee’s Amar Augillard and Esyah Pippa-White opened the scoring with consecutive three-pointers for a quick 6-0 lead, Texas Tech swiftly responded. The Red Raiders embarked on a 24-7 run over the next nine minutes, fueled by a barrage of long-range shots from Donovan Atwell and Christian Anderson that seized control of the contest.

Texas Tech took a 41-36 lead into halftime, and while the Panthers kept the margin from ballooning for much of the second half, they never mounted a sustained threat to close the gap to a single possession. The Red Raiders methodically extended their advantage after the break, leading by as many as 17 points before securing the 17-point win.

The offensive efficiency disparity was a central theme of the game. Despite both teams having an identical 65 possessions, Texas Tech’s offense was far more potent, scoring 80 points for an offensive rating of 123.7. Milwaukee, by comparison, managed just 63 points from those same 65 trips, resulting in an offensive rating of 96.7.

Christian Anderson was the catalyst for the Red Raiders, orchestrating the offense with a game-high 18 points and a team-best seven assists. His command of the floor and timely shooting, including four three-pointers, kept the Panthers defense off-balance throughout the night. He was complemented by a balanced scoring attack that saw four other Red Raiders reach double figures.

Donovan Atwell provided a significant spark with 17 points, all of which came from the field, including five three-pointers. Tyeree Bryan added 13 points, while Jaylen Petty came off the bench to contribute 11 points, all in the first half, to help build the early cushion.

The Red Raiders also controlled the interior battle, out-rebounding Milwaukee 44-35 and grabbing 13 offensive boards that led to 18 second-chance points. JT Toppin was a force on the glass, pulling down 10 rebounds to go with seven points, while LeJuan Watts just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Defensively, Texas Tech’s length and activity were disruptive. The team blocked five shots, with Luke Bamgboye swatting four attempts by himself, and recorded seven steals. This defensive pressure translated directly into offense, as the Red Raiders scored 18 points off 11 Milwaukee turnovers. They also held a 9-0 advantage in fastbreak points, highlighting their ability to capitalize on transition opportunities.

For Milwaukee, which fell to 2-3 with the loss, the offense ran primarily through Danilo Jovanovich. The forward from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, led the Panthers with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists, battling inside for much of his production. Sekou Konneh provided a bright spot off the bench, registering a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.

The Panthers struggled to find consistent offense outside of that duo. They shot 43.6 percent from the floor overall but were hampered by their inability to connect from distance and a disjointed offensive flow that yielded only five total assists. Milwaukee did manage to score 28 points in the paint, slightly besting Texas Tech’s 24, but it was not nearly enough to offset the Red Raiders’ three-point barrage and advantage in points off turnovers.

The game was the fourth in a challenging early-season stretch for Milwaukee, which was coming off a 101-70 loss at Indiana just two days prior. Texas Tech, meanwhile, bounced back from its first loss of the season, a narrow 81-77 defeat at Illinois on Tuesday.

Looking ahead, Texas Tech will travel to Nassau, The Bahamas, to face Wake Forest on Thursday, November 20. Milwaukee’s next contest is on the road at Wichita State on Saturday, November 22.