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Texas Tech Loses To Virginia In Overtime of Men's NCAA Basketball Championship

Texas Tech forced an overtime nail-biter in Monday night's NCAA men's basketball championship. Yet the Red Raiders couldn't quite claw past the Virginia Cavaliers, who won their first title, 85 to 77. We watched from the Dallas sports bar High Fives, packed with Tech grads.

The KERA radio story

James Delagarza graduated from Texas Tech in 1992 and was at the Tech watch party.

The Red Raiders built this first-ever Final Four team on tough defense. Even though it may not dazzle, Delagarza said you have to respect the effort it takes to win by wearing opponents down.

"We're the underdogs. We don't get the blue chip recruits," Delagarza said. "We're out in West Texas. We're always the underdog, we got a chip on our shoulder. So this is something to prove to the world."

For a big chunk of the second half, Virginia built a 10 point lead. And even though Tech fell short in overtime, alum Ethan Mathias came away impressed.

"You know my worry was that we wouldn't put in the effort," Mathias said amid cheers from game watchers. "So at the very least, as long as [the loss is] less than 10, it shows that we at least put some effort into it. As long as it's less than that."

Britni Cook, at the Red Raiders watch party at High Fives in Dallas
Credit Bill Zeeble / KERA News
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KERA News
Britni Cook, at the Red Raiders watch party at High Fives in Dallas

Well, it was eight points in the end. Still, that was enough for Britni Cook to keep her head up.

"I feel like it's a really big deal because it's the first time in Texas Tech history," Cook said. "We've tried so hard every year, and I feel like it's so worth it and rewarding for Texas Tech fans."

Tech was hoping to lead a first-ever Texas title sweep — but Baylor's Lady Bears, and Tech's crosstown neighbor, Division 2 Lubbock Christian University's Lady Chaparrals, will be the be the Lone Star State's lone basketball champions this season.

Not what we envisioned at the start of the night, but a season that won’t ever be forgotten.

Thank you.

#4To1 | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/vYcH3AxHjR— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) April 9, 2019

James Delagarza graduated from Texas Tech in 1992 and has been a Red Raider ever since
Bill Zeeble / KERA News
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KERA News
James Delagarza graduated from Texas Tech in 1992 and has been a Red Raider ever since

Copyright 2019 KERA

Bill Zeeble has been a full-time reporter at KERA since 1992, covering everything from medicine to the Mavericks and education to environmental issues. Heâââ