Lubbock, Texas ? Pat Knight finally got Texas Tech to buckle down on defense, just in time to avoid a costly loss.

Mike Singletary made two free throws with 18.4 seconds left and finished with 27 points, helping the 20th-ranked Red Raiders rally for a 76-75 victory over McNeese State on Friday.

“These last four games we’re giving up 40-45 points in the first half,” Knight said. “We won because we played defense in the second half.”

The Red Raiders (11-2) trailed by nine in the second half but rallied to take a 74-73 lead on Nick Okorie’s three-point play.

P.J. Alawoya got the lead back for McNeese State but couldn’t convert his opportunity for a three-point play. That led to Singletary’s chance to win it at the line.

McNeese State had two opportunities to get the win in the final seconds but failed to get a shot off each time. Diego Kapelan scored 20 points for the Cowboys (5-8).

Knight said he thought his team would’ve lost a similar game last year.

“That’s the difference,” he said. “This team hung on, played it to the end and got a hard, fought win. That’s what I look at. Trying to get better each year.”