Box Score LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech's balance outweighed Zeek Woodley's brilliance Tuesday night as the Red Raiders had four in double figures to offset 27 points on near-perfect shooting by Northwestern State's sophomore swingman in a 75-64 non-conference basketball outcome.
 
Texas Tech (3-1), whose only loss was in overtime at LSU, drained 62 percent of its shots after halftime to repel rallies by NSU (2-3), which played for the fourth time in eight days and for the third straight time on the road.
 
The Red Raiders got 13 points by Robert Turner, along with five steals, while Devaughtah Williams scored 11 and two teammates had 10 each. The Demons stayed in range behind Woodley's 11 of 12 shooting aim, including a 3-pointer, and a nine-assist, four-steal performance by point guard Jalan West, whose four points were his fewest in 38 games, since late in his freshman season.
 
NSU carved an 18-point deficit 6:28 before halftime down to 37-33 early in the second half. Texas Tech scored 11 of the next 13 points to regain control, moved up 53-37 with 13:19 to go, and didn't allow the Demons closer than 11 afterward.
 
"We finally figured out we had to slow the game down at this stage of our development," said Demons' coach Mike McConathy. "Jalan had as good a game as he's played. He got the ball into the hands of people to put them in a great position to score, and dealt with his situation so well. They are beating him to death, riding him, and so he's having to adjust to a very physical style of defense."
 
West scored only five points Sunday at No. 18 Oklahoma, getting one free throw attempt after averaging 10 in NSU's first three games.  He compensated with  eight assists and five steals. Tuesday night, West did not get to the free throw line at all for the first time in his 70-game college career, but had his 21^st game in two-plus seasons with at least eight assists as he enhanced his No. 5 NCAA ranking in career assists per game (5.85 entering the night).
 
"Zeek's special, and Jalan is a big reason why he's able to shine this brightly," said McConathy. "Jalan gets him the ball in great positions to score and Zeek finishes as well as anybody. To put up 26 and 27 in back to back games against Big XII Conference opponents is impressive."
 
The Demons shot 52 percent after halftime, soaring as high as 67 percent. But the much-bigger Red Raiders made 62 percent in the final period, and posted an overall 41-27 rebounding advantage while outscoring NSU 36-22 inside.  They had 13 offensive rebounds and beat the visitors 17-4 in second-chance points.
 
Texas Tech got to the free throw line 18 times in the second half, 10 more than NSU, which sank 14 of 19 from the line overall.
 
Despite falling for the second time in three days, McConathy was firm in his assessment of the Demons.
 
"This was our best performance. We got better since the OU game, and we got better during the game tonight. I'm very hopeful heading home that the guys are bonding and moving in a good direction," he said.
 
NSU plays its next two at home, Saturday afternoon at 3 against Missouri Valley and next Tuesday night against Louisiana Tech in Prather Coliseum.