Men's basketball hosts Arkansas in 2019 SEC/BIG 12 challenge

Beard (Source: Devin Ward KCBD)
Beard (Source: Devin Ward KCBD)
Updated: May. 24, 2018 at 3:12 PM CDT
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Information courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics

IRVING, Texas – The Texas Tech men's basketball team will meet fellow 2018 NCAA Tournament participant Arkansas as part of the 2019 SEC/Big 12 Challenge at the United Supermarkets Arena on Saturday, January 26 announced Thursday by both conferences.

The sixth annual SEC/Big 12 Challenge will feature 10 games televised by ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU during the last Saturday of January for the fourth straight season. Game times and television network assignments will be announced at a later date. The Big 12 has posted a 29-21 overall record at the event and will look to regain the trophy after the SEC won the challenge for the first time last season.

Texas Tech and Arkansas hit the hardwood for the 79th time in a series that is knotted up at 39-39. The former Southwest Conference rivals last met at the 2016 Big 12/SEC Challenge with the Razorbacks taking a 75-68 overtime decision in Fayetteville. The Red Raiders last win was 71-56 on Dec. 16, 2006 in Little Rock. Charlie Burgess dialed up 19 points and four steals followed by Jarrius Jackson and Martin Zeno who secured 17 points apiece.

The Red Raiders have won both of their SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchups under Chris Beard en route to a 3-2 overall record. Texas Tech's last home game was a 77-64 victory over LSU behind Zach Smith's 25 points and eight rebounds on Jan. 31, 2017.

Arkansas registered a 23-12 record and finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the SEC last season. The Razorbacks captured their third NCAA Tournament berth over the last four seasons under Mike Anderson but were eliminated by Butler in the opening round. Arkansas loses its top two scorers in Jaylen Barford (17.9 PPG) and Daryl Macon (16.8 PPG). The Razorbacks top returner is Daniel Gafford, an All-SEC Freshman-Team selection, who posted 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.

The Texas Tech Athletics Ticket Office is selling season tickets for as low as $135 and taking season ticket renewals for the upcoming 2018-19 season online at www.TexasTech.com. Fans also can renew their season tickets or purchase season tickets in person at the Texas Tech Athletics Ticket Office located on the East Side of Jones AT&T Stadium or over the phone at (806) 742-8324 (TECH). Information on single-game tickets and mini-plans will be announced at a later date by the Texas Tech Athletics Ticket Office.

Texas Tech is coming off the program's first NCAA Elite Eight trip and a program-best second-place Big 12 finish en route to a 27-10 record in 2017-18. The 27 wins were the second-highest total in program history for a season only behind the 30-2 mark put together by the 1995-96 squad under James Dickey. The Red Raiders also set a program single season record with eight victories over Associated Press Top 25 opponents and captured a program-best No. 6 final ranking in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 poll.

Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by liking TexasTechMBB on Facebook along with following @TexasTechMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

Texas Tech – SEC/Big 12 Challenge History
Date, Matchup, Location
01/26/2019, Texas Tech vs. Arkansas, United Supermarkets Arena

01/27/2018, Texas Tech 70, South Carolina 63, Columbia, South Carolina

01/28/2017, Texas Tech 77, LSU 64, United Supermarkets Arena
01/30/2016, Arkansas 75, Texas Tech 68 (OT), Fayetteville, Arkansas
12/03/2014, Texas Tech 46, Auburn 44, United Supermarkets Arena
11/14/2013, Alabama 76, Texas Tech 64, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

2019 SEC/Big 12 Challenge – Saturday, January 26, 2019


Hosted by Big 12

Arkansas at Texas Tech
Alabama at Baylor
Florida at TCU
South Carolina at Oklahoma State
Vanderbilt at Oklahoma

Hosted by SEC

Iowa State at Ole Miss
Kansas at Kentucky
Kansas State at Texas A&M
Texas at Georgia
West Virginia at Tennessee