TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The Texas Tech Red Raiders used a dominant second-half surge to pull away from the Akron Zips, advancing in the postseason with a 91-71 victory in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball playoff game Friday at Amalie Arena.

The game, played before a partisan Texas Tech crowd, saw the Red Raiders erase a tight halftime contest with a blistering offensive display after the break, outscoring the Zips 51-36 in the final 20 minutes. The victory improved Texas Tech’s season record to 23-10, while Akron’s impressive campaign ended at 27-6.

The most critical phase of the contest came early in the second half, when Texas Tech transformed a narrow 40-35 halftime lead into a commanding double-digit advantage. The Red Raiders opened the period on a decisive 13-3 run, fueled by aggressive defense and efficient scoring. Jaylen Petty and Donovan Atwell connected on consecutive three-pointers, and LeJuan Watts added two free throws, stretching the lead to 53-38 before the first media timeout. This explosive start set the tone for the remainder of the game, as Akron never managed to cut the deficit back to single digits.

Texas Tech’s victory was a product of balanced scoring and superior transition play. Five Red Raiders scored in double figures, led by Petty’s 24 points and four assists. Christian Anderson, the team’s top star, orchestrated the offense with 18 points and five assists. Josiah Moseley provided a formidable interior presence with 16 points, four rebounds and four blocked shots, while Donovan Atwell scored 15 and LeJuan Watts added 14 points and six rebounds.

The Red Raiders excelled in turning defense into offense, scoring 15 fastbreak points compared to zero for Akron. They also capitalized on Akron’s mistakes, generating 15 points off turnovers. While both teams were nearly even in points in the paint, Texas Tech’s ability to score from the perimeter and in the open floor proved to be the decisive difference.

Akron, the Mid-American Conference champion, was led by the standout performance of forward Amani Lyles. The Columbus, Ohio, native scored 26 points on efficient shooting, adding three rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Guard Shammah Scott provided scoring support with 20 points. The Zips hung tough in a back-and-forth first half, with Lyles and Scott combining for several key baskets to keep the score close. Evan Mahaffey contributed eight points and six rebounds for Akron.

The first half featured seven ties and six lead changes, with neither team leading by more than five points. Akron’s defense initially caused problems for Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders’ depth and athleticism began to wear down the Zips as the game progressed. Texas Tech’s halftime adjustments focused on increasing the tempo and applying more pressure on Akron’s ball handlers, a strategy that paid immediate dividends in the game-changing run to start the second half.

Texas Tech, which entered the game as a 9-point favorite according to sportsbooks, outperformed the pregame statistical projection that gave them a 74.5% chance to win. The combined score of 162 points surpassed the over/under line of 155.5.

The Red Raiders’ win sets up their next contest in the tournament bracket. Akron’s season concludes after a remarkable year that included a conference championship and 27 victories.