Winning three by design — sort of

Despite disdain for trey, Tech's Knight says shot was option

Lubbock, Texas ? No, Texas Tech coach Bob Knight stressed, he did not call a timeout to set up Darryl Dora’s game-winning three-point field goal.

“No one dislikes the three-point goal more than I do,” Knight said. “We didn’t necessarily try for a three, but we wanted to get somebody open, and if we had an open three, we wanted to take it.”

Dora, a 6-foot-9 sophomore who usually plays inside and had attempted only 23 three-pointers all season, had missed four Monday night before his long-ranger — and it was a good 22 feet from the basket — went right through the net.

“It was great we won in spectacular fashion with a three-point shot,” Knight said.

No Tech players were made available to the media after the game. A Tech spokesman said Knight made the decision because the players had curfews to meet.

Knight admitted that when Kansas grabbed a 79-74 lead early in the second overtime, he was concerned.

“But we really hung in there,” he said. “Our players did a good job of staying in the game. They came back twice when it looked like we had a chance to win it.”

Another plus, Knight noted, was the fact the Raiders were guilty of only 10 turnovers “against a team as good defensively as they are.”

Peeved Texas Tech coach Bob Knight argues a call in the second half.

With 3.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime, Kansas still had a chance to win, but Aaron Miles’ shot from about 30 feet bounced off the backboard.

“I knew they had time to get the ball across midcourt,” Knight said, “but we had someone on him, and it really wasn’t a shot. I’m just glad we didn’t foul.”

Freshman Martin Zeno led the Raiders, 16-6 overall and 8-3 in the Big 12, was 24 points while playing all 50 minutes. Guards Ronald Ross and Jarrius Jackson combined for 40 points (21 for Ross and 19 for Jackson).

Dora finished with 11 points and was the only other Red Raider in double figures.