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Pop Isaacs scores 32 points, No. 25 Texas Tech rallies to beat No. 20 BYU 85-78

AP
Jan 20, 2024

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) Pop Isaacs scored 23 of his career-high 32 points in the second half and No. 25 Texas Tech overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to beat No. 20 BYU 85-78 on Saturday night.

Warren Washington had 19 points and nine rebounds and gave the Red Raiders (15-3, 4-1 Big 12) their first lead at 64-62 with a jump hook in the lane with seven minutes remaining. Texas Tech shot 63% in the second half.

Aly Khalifa scored a season-high 21 points and had seven rebounds for the Cougars (14-4, 2-3), who led by 17 in the first half but shot 35% with eight of their 12 turnovers after the break.

After falling behind 10-0, the Red Raiders went on an 11-0 run to start the second half before finishing the rally in front of a frenzied crowd to keep their home record perfect at 11-0 under first-year coach Grant McCasland.

“What a remarkable atmosphere it was today,” McCasland said. “I thought we did it with our defense and grit. The fight you saw in the second half is the fight they show every day.”

Isaacs got them even for the first time at 62-62 with a steal and assist on Chance McMillian's layup with 7:32 to go.

BYU was back in front at 66-64 when Isaacs put Texas Tech up for good on a 3-pointer as the sophomore guard finished 6 of 9 from long range.

The Red Raiders scored the first 11 points of the second half in the first three minutes, and BYU's 16-point lead at the break was down to two with 13 minutes remaining.

“I thought they did an unbelievable job with their energy, especially pushing the ball in transition,” BYU coach Mark Pope said. “We did a little bit of a poor job, uncharacteristic for us, actually, managing transition the first six minutes of the second half.”

The Red Raiders were coming off a 23-point loss at No. 5 Houston after getting ranked for the first time under McCasland.

Isaacs, who has been cleared by Texas Tech's Title IX department amid a civil lawsuit claiming he sexually assaulted a teenage girl at a tournament in the Bahamas in November, had five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

“My teammates being there for me, able to have my back,” Isaacs said in his first public comments since news of the lawsuit broke two weeks ago. “I'm having fun, playing basketball, the game I love. Honestly, everything's been pretty good.”

BYU's Richie Saunders scored 16 points in his first start of the season with Noah Waterman sidelined for the first time this season. But he had just three points on three shots after halftime.

McMillian scored 14 points and made all five of his free throws as Texas Tech went 17 of 18 at the line.

BIG PICTURE

BYU: The Cougars are leading the nation in 3-pointers and were 10 of 20 from deep in the first half. But they cooled off after the break, making just three of 19.

Texas Tech: The defensive intensity in the second half fueled the comeback. The Red Raiders outscored the Cougars 17-2 in points off turnovers after the break.

UP NEXT

BYU: Host No. 5 Houston on Tuesday night.

Texas Tech: At No. 15 Oklahoma next Saturday.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
BYU
Cougars
48
TTU
Red Raiders
32

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Red Raiders gains possession)
19:36		Joe Toussaint misses two point jump shot
19:34		Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
19:15		Joe Toussaint blocks Spencer Johnson's three point jump shot
19:13		Dallin Hall offensive rebound
19:08	+3	Jaxson Robinson makes three point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)	3-0
18:46		Pop Isaacs misses two point jump shot
18:44		Warren Washington offensive rebound
18:39		Warren Washington misses two point layup
18:37		Darrion Williams offensive rebound
18:35		Darrion Williams misses two point jump shot
18:33		Cougars defensive rebound
18:22	+2	Spencer Johnson makes two point layup	5-0
17:52		Pop Isaacs misses three point jump shot
17:50		Joe Toussaint offensive rebound
17:49		Red Raiders turnover (shot clock violation)
17:28		Aly Khalifa misses three point jump shot
17:26		Kerwin Walton defensive rebound
17:17		Pop Isaacs turnover (bad pass)
17:04		Spencer Johnson misses three point jump shot
17:02		Warren Washington defensive rebound
16:50		Warren Washington misses two point jump shot
16:48		Dallin Hall defensive rebound
16:43	+3	Aly Khalifa makes three point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)	8-0
16:41		Red Raiders 30 second timeout
16:41		TV timeout
16:26		Robert Jennings misses two point jump shot
16:23		Darrion Williams offensive rebound
16:23		Darrion Williams misses two point layup
16:21		Dallin Hall defensive rebound
16:11	+2	Richie Saunders makes two point layup (Aly Khalifa assists)	10-0
16:11		Pop Isaacs shooting foul (Richie Saunders draws the foul)
16:11		Richie Saunders misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:11		Pop Isaacs defensive rebound
15:47	+3	Darrion Williams makes three point jump shot	10-3
15:32		Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
15:30		Warren Washington defensive rebound
15:14		Chance McMillian misses two point jump shot
15:12		Richie Saunders defensive rebound
15:07	+3	Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot	13-3
14:50		Joe Toussaint misses two point jump shot
14:49		Cougars defensive rebound
14:48		TV timeout
14:32		Dallin Hall turnover (bad pass)
14:23	+2	Warren Washington makes two point dunk (Joe Toussaint assists)	13-5
14:23		Fousseyni Traore shooting foul (Warren Washington draws the foul)
14:23	+1	Warren Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 1	13-6
13:55		Fousseyni Traore misses two point layup
13:53		Darrion Williams defensive rebound
13:42		Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
13:40		Dallin Hall defensive rebound
13:19		Trevin Knell misses three point jump shot
13:17		Darrion Williams defensive rebound
12:54		Joe Toussaint turnover (bad pass) (Spencer Johnson steals)
12:33		Spencer Johnson misses two point jump shot
12:31		Joe Toussaint defensive rebound
12:20		Joe Toussaint misses three point jump shot
12:18		Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
12:06		Richie Saunders misses two point jump shot
12:04		Fousseyni Traore offensive rebound
11:59	+2	Fousseyni Traore makes two point layup	15-6
11:40		Darrion Williams turnover (Richie Saunders steals)
11:25	+2	Richie Saunders makes two point layup (Fousseyni Traore assists)	17-6
11:24		Red Raiders 30 second timeout
11:24		TV timeout
11:08	+2	Warren Washington makes two point hook shot	17-8
10:49		Kerwin Walton shooting foul (Richie Saunders draws the foul)
10:49	+1	Richie Saunders makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-8
10:49	+1	Richie Saunders makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-8
10:39		Pop Isaacs misses two point layup
10:37		Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
10:32	+3	Townsend Tripple makes three point jump shot (Jaxson Robinson assists)	22-8
10:11	+3	Kerwin Walton makes three point jump shot (Chance McMillian assists)	22-11
9:53		Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
9:51		Chance McMillian defensive rebound
9:46		Chance McMillian misses two point layup
9:44		Trevin Knell defensive rebound
9:31		Trevin Knell misses three point jump shot
9:29		Jaxson Robinson offensive rebound
9:26	+3	Jaxson Robinson makes three point jump shot	25-11
8:55	+2	Warren Washington makes two point layup	25-13
8:44	+2	Jaxson Robinson makes two point jump shot	27-13
8:24	+2	Warren Washington makes two point layup (Lamar Washington assists)	27-15
8:12	+3	Trevin Knell makes three point jump shot (Jaxson Robinson assists)	30-15
7:56	+3	Chance McMillian makes three point jump shot	30-18
7:43	+3	Trevin Knell makes three point jump shot (Jaxson Robinson assists)	33-18
7:20		Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
7:18		Aly Khalifa defensive rebound
7:08		Townsend Tripple misses three point jump shot
7:08		Kerwin Walton defensive rebound
7:08		Trevin Knell personal foul
7:08		TV timeout
7:05		Jaxson Robinson personal foul
6:56		Joe Toussaint misses two point jump shot
6:54		Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
6:41	+2	Fousseyni Traore makes two point layup	35-18
6:24	+2	Pop Isaacs makes two point jump shot	35-20
5:53		Fousseyni Traore misses two point jump shot
5:51		Darrion Williams defensive rebound
5:37		Jaxson Robinson shooting foul (Pop Isaacs draws the foul)
5:37	+1	Pop Isaacs makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-21
5:37	+1	Pop Isaacs makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-22
5:23		Fousseyni Traore turnover (Warren Washington steals)
5:16		Chance McMillian misses three point jump shot
5:14		Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
4:59		Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
4:57		Fousseyni Traore offensive rebound
4:39		Fousseyni Traore misses two point jump shot
4:37		Chance McMillian defensive rebound
4:22		Joe Toussaint misses three point jump shot
4:20		Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
4:15		Chance McMillian personal foul
4:04	+2	Richie Saunders makes two point layup	37-22
3:43	+2	Chance McMillian makes two point layup (Warren Washington assists)	37-24
3:43		Spencer Johnson shooting foul (Chance McMillian draws the foul)
3:43		TV timeout
3:43	+1	Chance McMillian makes regular free throw 1 of 1	37-25
3:23	+2	Richie Saunders makes two point dunk (Aly Khalifa assists)	39-25
3:01		Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
2:59		Chance McMillian offensive rebound
2:59		Trevin Knell personal foul
2:53	+3	Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot (Chance McMillian assists)	39-28
2:41		Aly Khalifa turnover (Pop Isaacs steals)
2:36	+2	Warren Washington makes two point dunk (Darrion Williams assists)	39-30
2:36		Red Raiders 30 second timeout
2:36		TV timeout
2:10		Aly Khalifa misses three point jump shot
2:08		Cougars offensive rebound
1:54	+3	Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)	42-30
1:30		Pop Isaacs misses two point jump shot
1:28		Aly Khalifa defensive rebound
1:22		Jaxson Robinson turnover (Chance McMillian steals)
1:11		Warren Washington misses two point jump shot
1:09		Aly Khalifa defensive rebound
1:02	+3	Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot	45-30
0:39	+2	Pop Isaacs makes two point layup	45-32
0:10	+3	Aly Khalifa makes three point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)	48-32
0:01		Pop Isaacs misses two point jump shot
0:00		Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
BYU
Cougars
30
TTU
Red Raiders
53

Time		Play	Score
19:49		Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
19:47		Dallin Hall offensive rebound
19:43		Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
19:41		Spencer Johnson offensive rebound
19:25		Spencer Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Joe Toussaint steals)
19:07	+3	Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot (Joe Toussaint assists)	48-35
18:44		Jaxson Robinson misses two point jump shot
18:42		Aly Khalifa offensive rebound
18:38		Spencer Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:36		Warren Washington defensive rebound
18:28	+2	Warren Washington makes two point jump shot (Pop Isaacs assists)	48-37
18:14		Spencer Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:12		Pop Isaacs defensive rebound
18:08	+2	Pop Isaacs makes two point layup	48-39
18:05		Cougars 30 second timeout
18:05		TV timeout
17:53		Aly Khalifa misses three point jump shot
17:51		Pop Isaacs defensive rebound
17:43		Darrion Williams misses two point layup
17:41		Aly Khalifa defensive rebound
17:30		Aly Khalifa misses two point jump shot
17:26		Cougars offensive rebound
17:12		Richie Saunders misses two point layup
17:10		Pop Isaacs defensive rebound
17:05		Richie Saunders shooting foul (Warren Washington draws the foul)
17:05	+1	Warren Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-40
17:05	+1	Warren Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2	48-41
16:50	+3	Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot (Jaxson Robinson assists)	51-41
16:33	+3	Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot (Joe Toussaint assists)	51-44
16:04		Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
16:02		Warren Washington defensive rebound
15:52		Joe Toussaint misses two point jump shot
15:50		Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
15:35		Fousseyni Traore misses two point layup
15:33		Richie Saunders offensive rebound
15:24	+2	Fousseyni Traore makes two point jump shot (Richie Saunders assists)	53-44
15:07		Pop Isaacs misses three point jump shot
15:05		Richie Saunders defensive rebound
14:57		Richie Saunders misses two point jump shot
14:55		Warren Washington defensive rebound
14:42		Jaxson Robinson personal foul
14:42		TV timeout
14:35		Trevin Knell shooting foul (Chance McMillian draws the foul)
14:35	+1	Chance McMillian makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-45
14:35	+1	Chance McMillian makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-46
14:23	+2	Fousseyni Traore makes two point hook shot	55-46
14:03	+3	Kerwin Walton makes three point jump shot (Darrion Williams assists)	55-49
13:42		Chance McMillian personal foul
13:37		Fousseyni Traore turnover (lost ball) (Lamar Washington steals)
13:29	+2	Lamar Washington makes two point layup	55-51
13:24		Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
13:22		Warren Washington defensive rebound
13:11		Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
13:09		Chance McMillian offensive rebound
13:04	+2	Chance McMillian makes two point layup	55-53
13:02		Cougars 30 second timeout
12:53		Dallin Hall turnover (lost ball)
12:39		Joe Toussaint misses two point jump shot
12:37		Aly Khalifa defensive rebound
12:20		Aly Khalifa misses three point jump shot
12:18		Townsend Tripple offensive rebound
12:17		Warren Washington personal foul
11:57		Aly Khalifa misses two point jump shot
11:55		Spencer Johnson offensive rebound
11:48		Warren Washington blocks Spencer Johnson's two point jump shot
11:46		Townsend Tripple offensive rebound
11:42		Warren Washington shooting foul (Aly Khalifa draws the foul)
11:42		TV timeout
11:42	+1	Aly Khalifa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-53
11:42		Aly Khalifa misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:42		Warren Washington defensive rebound
11:26	+2	Pop Isaacs makes two point jump shot	56-55
11:09		Warren Washington personal foul
11:01	+2	Aly Khalifa makes two point jump shot	58-55
10:43		Pop Isaacs misses two point jump shot
10:41		Dallin Hall defensive rebound
10:29	+2	Aly Khalifa makes two point layup	60-55
10:03		Pop Isaacs misses three point jump shot
10:01		Dallin Hall defensive rebound
9:49		Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
9:47		Pop Isaacs defensive rebound
9:26	+2	Darrion Williams makes two point jump shot	60-57
8:54	+2	Aly Khalifa makes two point layup	62-57
8:43		Red Raiders 30 second timeout
8:20		Pop Isaacs turnover (lost ball) (Spencer Johnson steals)
8:14		Spencer Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Pop Isaacs steals)
8:07	+2	Joe Toussaint makes two point layup (Pop Isaacs assists)	62-59
8:07		Aly Khalifa shooting foul (Joe Toussaint draws the foul)
8:07	+1	Joe Toussaint makes regular free throw 1 of 1	62-60
7:50		Joe Toussaint personal foul
7:50		TV timeout
7:40		Fousseyni Traore turnover (bad pass) (Pop Isaacs steals)
7:35	+2	Chance McMillian makes two point layup (Pop Isaacs assists)	62-62
7:19		Fousseyni Traore turnover (bad pass)
7:06	+2	Warren Washington makes two point hook shot	62-64
6:34		Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
6:32		Fousseyni Traore offensive rebound
6:31		Darrion Williams personal foul
6:30	+2	Aly Khalifa makes two point layup (Dallin Hall assists)	64-64
6:11		Warren Washington misses two point jump shot
6:09		Trevin Knell defensive rebound
6:01	+2	Aly Khalifa makes two point layup	66-64
5:38	+3	Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot (Darrion Williams assists)	66-67
5:29		Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
5:27		Warren Washington defensive rebound
5:14	+2	Warren Washington makes two point dunk (Pop Isaacs assists)	66-69
5:02		Aly Khalifa misses three point jump shot
4:57		Cougars offensive rebound
4:55		Spencer Johnson misses three point jump shot
4:53		Richie Saunders offensive rebound
4:36	+2	Aly Khalifa makes two point layup	68-69
4:05		Dallin Hall personal foul
4:00	+3	Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot (Joe Toussaint assists)	68-72
3:39	+2	Aly Khalifa makes two point layup (Dallin Hall assists)	70-72
3:11		Joe Toussaint misses two point jump shot
3:09		Aly Khalifa defensive rebound
2:59		Dallin Hall turnover (lost ball) (Darrion Williams steals)
2:53	+3	Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot (Joe Toussaint assists)	70-75
2:41		Cougars 60 second timeout
2:41		TV timeout
2:18		Jaxson Robinson turnover (out of bounds)
2:07	+2	Pop Isaacs makes two point jump shot	70-77
1:59	+3	Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Aly Khalifa assists)	73-77
1:38		Dallin Hall shooting foul (Pop Isaacs draws the foul)
1:38	+1	Pop Isaacs makes regular free throw 1 of 2	73-78
1:38	+1	Pop Isaacs makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-79
1:29		Dallin Hall misses two point layup
1:27		Darrion Williams defensive rebound
1:07		Pop Isaacs turnover (bad pass) (Spencer Johnson steals)
1:01	+2	Spencer Johnson makes two point jump shot	75-79
0:52		Dallin Hall personal foul (Joe Toussaint draws the foul)
0:52		Joe Toussaint misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:52		Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
0:42		Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
0:40		Joe Toussaint defensive rebound
0:35		Joe Toussaint misses two point layup
0:33		Chance McMillian offensive rebound
0:33		Dallin Hall personal foul (Chance McMillian draws the foul)
0:33	+1	Chance McMillian makes regular free throw 1 of 2	75-80
0:33	+1	Chance McMillian makes regular free throw 2 of 2	75-81
0:26	+3	Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot	78-81
0:23		Dallin Hall personal foul (Joe Toussaint draws the foul)
0:23	+1	Joe Toussaint makes regular free throw 1 of 2	78-82
0:23	+1	Joe Toussaint makes regular free throw 2 of 2	78-83
0:14		Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
0:12		Darrion Williams defensive rebound
0:08		Spencer Johnson personal foul (Darrion Williams draws the foul)
0:08	+1	Darrion Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2	78-84
0:08	+1	Darrion Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	78-85
0:03		Aly Khalifa misses three point jump shot
0:01		Darrion Williams defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Darrion Williams defensive rebound