Box Score | Postgame Radio Interview

LAS VEGAS - A stifling Loyola defense held Texas Tech without a field goal for the final 7:14 of the first half and the Ramblers broke the game open with a 20-5, second-half run in a 62-44 win over the Red Raiders tonight at the Continental Tires Las Vegas Classic at Orleans Arena. The win was Loyola's first over a Big 12 Conference team since a 69-64 victory over Kansas State on Dec. 19, 1999 and pushes its record to 9-2 on the season.

"What I know about this team is that we have a lot of different weapons," said head coach Porter Moser. "A lot of guys willing to buy in. Ben (Richardson) really got us going in the first half and one of the big keys for us was defensive transition. We talked so much about that leading up to this game, getting back on defense and making them play against a half-court defense and I thought we did a great job of that tonight."

Texas Tech scored six of the first eight points of the game but a Devon Turk three-pointer helped Loyola settle in. The Ramblers trailed 11-7 after an Isaiah Manderson dunk but they started to find their offensive rhythm. Ben Richardson knocked down a pair of three-pointers and Milton Doyle fed Donte Ingram for a fast break bucket to cap a 10-0 run that gave LU a 17-11 lead at the 9:05 mark. Texas Tech battled back, using a three-point play from Norense Odiase to get within one (17-16) but it would prove to be its last field goal of the half with Loyola closing the period on an 11-3 run to take a 28-19 lead into intermission.

The Red Raiders came out strong in the second half, scoring eight of the first 11 points to get within four, 31-27. Two Joe Crisman free throws helped stem the tide and jumpstarted a 7-0 run that pushed the lead to double figures (38-27) with 14:10 to play. Texas Tech closed to within seven again but Loyola had another answer, effectively putting the game away. A Jay Knuth tip-in and two Turk free throws made it an 11-point game and a Crisman layup at the 3:26 mark capped the decisive 20-5 run, a spurt in which LU's defense limited Texas Tech to 1-of-14 shooting.

Loyola finished the game shooting just 38% from the floor but finished 23-of-30 from the free throw line, including 19-of-26 in the second half. The Rambler defense was the story, holding the Red Raiders to 34% accuracy for the night, including 0-for-21 from three-point range.

Knuth finished with 15 points and six rebounds, hitting 13-of-14 from the stripe. Richardson finished with nine points with Earl Peterson adding eight as Loyola's bench outscored TTU's 39-9.

Loyola will play the winner of Boise State and Houston in tomorrow night's championship game. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. CT at Orleans Arena.