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Pop Isaacs, Texas Tech basketball finding catharsis in the chaos

Published

11 months ago

January 21, 2024

Press Room

Pop Isaacs, Texas Tech basketball finding catharsis in the chaos

Nobody had to tell Pop Isaacs it was a must-win game Saturday in United Supermarkets Arena.

Playing in front of an announced sellout of 15,098 fans against another ranked opponent, the Texas Tech basketball team didn’t want to follow up Wednesday’s tail-whooping by No. 5 Houston with a clunker against No. 20 BYU.

The Red Raiders have had better halves of basketball than the first session against BYU. Grant McCasland likened Tech’s 48-32 halftime deficit to the team’s troubling half against Northern Iowa in the Bahamas during the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Texas Tech came back to win that game after being down 15 points. Adding another two points to the deficit against BYU was a new challenge, but one Isaacs was ready for.

ABOUT THE GAME: Pop Isaacs ignites No. 25 Texas Tech basketball comeback against No. 20 BYU: 3 takeaways

“I just didn’t want to let us lose,” Isaacs said. “That was my biggest thing. Anything it was gonna take to win, that’s what I was trying to do.”

McCasland said earlier this year that Isaacs can sometimes get too amped playing in front of the home fans, that he can try to put on too much of a show. That wasn’t a negative for Isaacs on Saturday.

“I love playing in this gym, man,” Isaacs said. “It’s so fun.”

In the second half alone, Isaacs was 8-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from 3-point range, totaling 23 points. He also had four rebounds, four assists and two steals in his 18 minutes on the floor.

By the end of Tech’s 85-78 comeback victory, Isaacs set new career highs in points (32), made field goals (11), and made 3s (6).

After his historic day, Isaacs spoke to the media for the first time since being named in a civil lawsuit accusing him of “sexual abuse towards a minor” during the team’s Bahamas trip. Since the lawsuit became public Jan. 5, Isaacs said, all things considered, the last few weeks have been good for him.

“My teammates have been there for me,” Isaacs said. “They’ve had my back. I’ve been having fun playing the game of basketball, playing the game I love. Honestly, everything’s been pretty good.”

It doesn’t hurt he and his teammates have on-court matters to attend to. Beating BYU gives the Red Raiders (15-3, 4-1) their second win over a ranked team this season and keeps them tied atop the Big 12 standings for at least another week — along with Kansas State, which is also 4-1 in league play.

Isaacs said he’s not sure if McCasland pays attention to Big 12 happenings outside of their own team, but the players sure do.

“We always want to stay a step ahead in the standings and stuff like that,” Isaacs said. “You’re gonna get your bumps and bruises along the way.”

PREDICTION HOLDS UP: No. 25 Texas Tech basketball looks to avoid skid with No. 20 BYU in town: Scouting report, predictions

On Saturday, he was sporting one of those bruises from the loss to Houston on Wednesday. Isaacs still had a bandage across his left eye necessitated from the physical encounter against the fifth-ranked Cougars. No blood was shed in Saturday’s contest, thankfully. It just took a major second-half turnaround, and for Isaacs to take the lead.

“He did what he does,” BYU’s Richie Saunders said. “He makes shots. That’s what he did.”

Texas Tech has now overcome double-digit deficits three times this year: the UNI game in November, plus each of the last two home games. McCasland would probably like to spare some of the drama, but he’s not questioning the results so far.

“If you want to be the toughest team, and you really believe that, then it’s 40 minutes,” McCasland said. “It doesn’t ever stop. It doesn’t matter what the score is. … I don’t really care what the score is. There’s a way to play this game and if you don’t play it with that grit, it doesn’t matter. The score is always going to not be in your favor.

“I’ll tell you, with this team, they do believe and they do see that.”

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Pleasant Christmas weather for North Texas before storms return Thursday

Published

9 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Pleasant Christmas weather for North Texas before storms return Thursday – CBS Texas

Watch CBS News

First Alert meteorologist Brittany Rainey has the latest forecast.

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Texas A&M vs. USC Prediction, Odds, Picks – December 27, 2024

Published

17 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Texas A&M vs. USC Prediction, Odds, Picks – December 27, 2024

Data Skrive

The Las Vegas Bowl features a battle between the Texas A&M Aggies (who are 3.5-point favorites) and the USC Trojans on December 27, 2024 at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The over/under is set at 52.

Facing the Texas Longhorns in their most recent game, the Aggies lost 17-7. Last time out, the Trojans fell to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with 49-35 being the final score.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Joel Klatt explains how ‘USC is spiraling and in trouble’ | The Herd

FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt joins Colin Cowherd to discuss USC losing 19 players to the transfer portal and why it is troubling.

Texas A&M vs. USC Game Information & Odds

When: Friday, December 27, 2024 at 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
TV: ESPN
Live Box Score on FOX Sports

More College Football Predictions

Texas A&M vs USC Betting Information updated as of December 25, 2024, 2:45 a.m. ET.
Favorite	Spread (Odds)	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Total	Over Moneyline	Under Moneyline
Texas A&M	-3.5 (-111)	-180	+149	52	-109	-111

Texas A&M vs. USC Prediction

Pick ATS:
Texas A&M (-3.5)
Pick OU: Under (52)
Prediction: Texas A&M 28, USC 24

Predictions are made by the Data Skrive betting model.

Learn more about the Texas A&M Aggies vs. the USC Trojans game on FOX Sports!

Texas A&M vs. USC Betting Insights

Per the spread and over/under, the implied score for the tilt is Aggies 28, Trojans 24.
The Aggies have a 64.3% chance to claim victory in this meeting per the moneyline’s implied probability. The Trojans hold a 40.2% implied probability.
Texas A&M has compiled a 3-9-0 record against the spread this season.
USC has put together a 7-5-0 record against the spread this season.

Texas A&M vs. USC: 2024 Stats Comparison

	Texas A&M	USC
Off. Points per Game (Rank)	30.3 (52)	29.8 (55)
Def. Points per Game (Rank)	21.2 (23)	23.5 (47)
Turnovers Allowed (Rank)	13 (28)	18 (71)
Turnovers Forced (Rank)	17 (61)	16 (69)

Texas A&M 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Marcel Reed	QB	1,572 YDS (61.1%) / 12 TD / 4 INT 501 RUSH YDS / 6 RUSH TD / 45.5 RUSH YPG
Le’Veon Moss	RB	769 YDS / 10 TD / 85.4 YPG / 6.4 YPC 10 REC / 141 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 17.6 REC YPG
Amari Daniels	RB	661 YDS / 8 TD / 55.1 YPG / 4.8 YPC
Noah Thomas	WR	34 REC / 545 YDS / 6 TD / 45.4 YPG
Taurean York	LB	57 TKL / 6 TFL / 2.5 SACK / 1 INT
Nic Scourton	DL	29 TKL / 11 TFL / 4 SACK
Will Lee III	DB	37 TKL / 0 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Dalton Brooks	DB	44 TKL / 5 TFL / 1 SACK

USC 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Jo’Quavious Marks	RB	1,133 YDS / 9 TD / 94.4 YPG / 5.7 YPC 47 REC / 321 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 29.2 REC YPG
Miller Moss	QB	2,555 YDS (64.4%) / 18 TD / 9 INT -18 RUSH YDS / 2 RUSH TD / -2 RUSH YPG
Ja’Kobi Lane	WR	36 REC / 398 YDS / 9 TD / 36.2 YPG
Jayden Maiava	QB	906 YDS (61.2%) / 7 TD / 2 INT 49 RUSH YDS / 4 RUSH TD / 5.4 RUSH YPG
Easton Mascarenas	LB	84 TKL / 4 TFL / 3 SACK / 2 INT
Kamari Ramsey	DB	44 TKL / 4 TFL / 2 SACK
Mason Cobb	LB	61 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Jaylin Smith	DB	49 TKL / 3 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Texas battered by quarter-sized hail and heavy winds in Christmas Eve storm

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Texas battered by quarter-sized hail and heavy winds in Christmas Eve storm

What’s New?

Texas is being battered by huge hailstones the size of quarters, powerful winds of up to 65mph and thunderstorms on Christmas Eve.

Why It Matters

The winter storms come as many Americans traveled home just in time for the holidays.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicted a record-breaking year for holiday travel, with more than 119 million expected to hit the roads and the skies.

Last weekend was expected to be the busiest travel period, but Texans who left their travel to Christmas Eve may have been faced with hailstorms, flooded roadways and even potential tornadoes.

The storms are predicted to continue until Christmas Day, meaning Texans are likely in for a wet, not a white Christmas, this year.

What To Know

The National Weather Service (NWS) has placed much of Texas under severe thunderstorm warnings after a winter storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to the state today.

A flash flood warning was issued in the Fort Worth, Texas, area on Tuesday while a tornado warning was also issued for the southeast region of the state as forecasters warned of multiple tornadoes, winds of up to 65mph and hail of up to two inches diameter.

Many Texans have been sharing footage and images of large hailstones that landed in their backyards. So far, there have been no reports of serious damage from the hailstorm.

A ground stop was issued at Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday afternoon amid the severe weather.

The NWS has also warned that the environment “will support a threat for supercells with isolated large hail. A marginal wind-damage threat may also develop along the more intense parts of the line.”

Supercells refer to rotating thunderstorms that can last for hours, travel hundreds of miles and often produce tornadoes.

What People Are Saying

National Weather Service said in a statement earlier today, “A line of strong to severe thunderstorms, capable of large hail and marginally severe gusts, is expected to develop late this afternoon into this evening across east-central Texas.”

One Cypress, Texas resident, who shared a video of huge hailstones bouncing off the ground in her backyard, wrote on X, “It is bonkers at my home right now in Cypress, TX. Suburb of Houston. Major hail and rain.”

Meredith Seaver, another Cypress, Texas, resident shared a picture of huge hailstones, and asked, “It’s a Christmas miracle?”

Forecaster Max Velocity said on X, “NASTY LINE OF STORMS will move into SE Texas tonight, including Houston! Damaging winds, hail, and a tornado will be possible. Santa will have to navigate around these storms!”

What Happens Next?

The storm’s heavy rain and strong winds are expected to continue until 5 a.m. CST.

The National Weather Service has placed regions of Texas under severe thunderstorm warnings until 8 p.m. CST, with severe thunderstorm watches issued for parts of Texas until 12 a.m. CST.

Light rain is expected on Christmas Day and through Thursday while another storm system is predicted to move into the region on Friday, bringing continued rain through Saturday.

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