SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- With Tubby Smith in the same tournament as his former program this week, it seemed like fate that Minnesota and Texas Tech would meet at some point in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
After both teams lost in the opening round, they either had to lose or win together on Friday. Both did the latter.
Minnesota hung on to beat Missouri State 74-69. Texas Tech then escaped Mississippi State 74-72.
That set up the matchup that has been talked about since the tournament field was announced last year. It will happen in Sunday's fifth-place game.