Texas Tech secured a trip to its first national championship game in program history on Saturday night after taking down Michigan State, 61–51, in a defensive slugfest in Minneapolis.
Senior guard Matt Mooney led Texas Tech two a two-point edge at halftime after close first half contest in Saturday's second Final Four contest.
Mooney's nine first-half points led the Red Raiders through a slow first half offensively as they locked down on defense. Senior forward Tariq Owens followed with seven–two of which came off of a big dunk early in the contest–and a monster block to send Texas Tech into the half with the two-point lead.