LOBBOCK, Tex. – Bethune-Cookman men's basketball will undergo an early season challenge Thursday night as they do battle with the 19th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Sportsmarket Arena.
 


Thursday, November 5
Opponent: No. 19 Texas Tech (1-0)
Time: 8 p.m. EST
Location: Lubbock, Tex. | United Sportsmarkets Arena
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Mari Jordan scored 22 points in his Bethune-Cookman debut, but it was not enough, as Furman held on for a narrow 79-70 win over the Wildcats at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center.

Despite trailing by as many as 15, the Wildcats fought to keep within striking distance. But, three-point shooting proved to be the difference as the Paladins outscored B-CU 36-24 from beyond the arc in a nine-point victory.

The first six minutes went back-and-forth, with both teams exchanging one-possession leads. But, it was Furman who went on a big scoring run to take a big lead.

After a tie game at 10, the Paladins went on an 18-4 scoring run to go up 28-14 with 6:35 remaining. The Wildcats (0-1) prevented the lead from stretching further, but Furman still brought at 11-point advantage into the locker room.

B-CU shot just 37% in the half, but were able to hang around due to a dominant 14-2 edge in the paint. Radford transfer Mari Jordan finished with 14 of the Wildcats' 28 first-half points.

Bethune-Cookman slowly clawed away at the deficit to begin the second outscoring the Paladins 22-11 during the opening seven minutes to tie the game at 50.

Unfortunately, the Wildcats were unable to push things further as Furman would quickly rebound with an 12-2 run to go back up by double-digits.

B-CU would again put the pressure on with a 7-0 run getting them back within three, but the Paladins closed out the game with an 8-2 burst to close out the season-opening victory.

The shooting was much improved for the Wildcats in the second half (48% from the field and 6-for-12 from beyond the arc). They also had six more shot attempts than Furman.

However, the Paladins finished the game with 14 more free-throw attempts, converting at a 76.7% clip. And in the second, they outscored the Wildcats in the paint 16-14.



Texas Tech is coming off a season in which they finished 23-11 overall and earned a five seed in the NCAA Tournament. They defeated Akron in the opening round before falling to Alabama in the round of 32.

This season, the Red Raiders were chosen to finish fifth in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, while returning star JT Toppin was tabbed as a unanimous All-Big 12 Preseason Selection.

Toppin was one of the top player in the country last season before an ACL injury cut his season short. In his absence, TTU will rely on a mix of returners and newcomers, including Wyoming transfer Damarion Dennis.

Dennis had an excellent debut Monday against Jackson State, leading the team with 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-8 from downtown. Returner Josiah Moseley (13) and Hofstra transfer Cruz Davis (15) also scored in double figures in the dominant win.




Texas Tech was won both its meetings against Bethune-Cookman, including a 94-61 victory in 2024.

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