If it makes any sense, Texas Tech's inconsistencies are consistent.
When it looked like Tech was going to roll over and let its usually uninspired defense take over the game against TCU, the Red Raiders shook it off.
This happened on several occasions, but the most important one came too late.
Trailing TCU 60-44 with 11:36 remaining in the game, Tech went on a massive 16-4 run to cut the Horned Frogs' lead to four with under three minutes remaining.
However, a coffin-cornered 3-pointer from TCU's Edvinas Ruzgas kept the tired Red Raiders at bay as they were unable to complete the comeback.
Ruzgas led five Horned Frogs in double figures with a career-high 24 points, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range in an 85-80 victory over Tech Tuesday in the United Spirit Arena, handing the Red Raiders their first home loss of the season before 10,202 fans.
"It was up and down," said Tech coach Pat Knight, whose team begins Big 12 Conference play at Baylor on Saturday. "We let them jump on us, and they got that big lead and we finally started playing there for five or six minutes."
"They're too good of a team, too well coached to think you can just turn it on and off like that."
Forward Mike Singletary and guard Alan Voskuil led the Red Raiders with 22 points each, although Voskuil hit four 3-pointers in between TCU's free throw trips late in the game.
Tech (10-5) had a fairly solid game statistically, shooting 42 percent from the field and beyond the arc, but untimely turnovers and poor shots cost the Red Raiders the comeback.
Knight said he was not happy with a defensive performance that resulted in an opposing team scoring more than 80 points for the sixth time this season.
"Especially with what we've been doing in practice, that's what people don't see in practice," he said. "I just get tired of hearing about it from so-called people that think they know what they're talking about.
"Come to practice, see what we do. See how we break down. These kids gotta get it sometime. It's not like we just roll the ball out there."
TCU (10-5) opened the second half with a 21-6 run that the Red Raiders eventually whittled down to 64-60, but the comeback used too much energy.
Tech ran out of gas and the Horned Frogs shot free throws the rest of the way.
Tech's John Roberson drew first blood in the second half with a quick pull-up jumper at the free throw line, cutting the lead to three.
Seconds later, D'Walyn Roberts followed a missed layup by Voskuil with an emphatic jam that drew roars from the crowd.
TCU poured it on from there, thanks to Tech's carelessness with the ball, bad shot selection, and porous defense. TCU opened the wound to 60-44 as Tech went without a field goal for nearly six minutes.
"You just gotta stay after it," Knight said. "We'll bitch and complain to each other and be pissed off but then tomorrow we gotta practice and get ready for Baylor, start getting ready for the Big 12."
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