Wyoming transfer Damarion Dennis shone in his Texas Tech debut, scoring 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, to lead the No. 19 Red Raiders to a 76-42 season-opening victory over Jackson State Monday night in Lubbock, Texas.
Dennis drilled four 3-pointers and Cruz Davis added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists for Texas Tech, which kicked off its five-game homestand with its 47th consecutive nonconference win at home. Josiah Moseley chipped in 13 points and eight boards.
Reigning SWAC Player of the Year Daeshun Ruffin averaged 23.3 points per game last season but was held to only five against Texas Tech.
Mike Williams scored 11 points to lead the Tigers. Dorian McMillian added 10.
McMillian hit a pair of 3-pointers in the opening two minutes of play, staking the Tigers to a 6-3 lead at the 18:01 mark.
The Red Raiders answered with a 12-1 run, and Jackson State dealt with a scoring drought that lasted more than four minutes.
A 3-pointer and layup from Dennis helped highlight the run as Texas Tech surged in front 15-7 with 12:28 left in the opening half.
Dakari Spear drilled a 3-pointer with 9:22 left as the Red Raiders pushed their lead to double digits (22-12) for the first time.
Texas Tech dominated down the stretch, highlighted by a 13-0 run that gave it a 35-16 lead with 2:12 remaining after Davis scored a layup off a fastbreak.
Williams ended a five-minute Tigers scoring drought with 1:50 left by knocking down a jumper but the Red Raiders cruised into halftime with a 38-18 lead.
The Red Raiders outscored the Tigers 16-2 in the final 6:31 of the half.
Texas Tech opened the second half on a 9-2 run, with Dennis making a 3-pointer to push the lead to 47-20 at the 16:56 mark.
The Red Raiders led by as many as 38 in the second half, going in front 65-27 with 8:47 left after two free throws by Moseley.