LUBBOCK, Texas _ For the 12th time in 19 games this season, Kentucky faced a possession-by-possession test of wills that featured a margin of four of fewer points inside the final eight minutes.
And for the eighth time in such games, Kentucky won.
Nick Richards made two free throws with 10.3 seconds left in overtime to give No. 15 UK a 76-74 victory over No. 18 Texas Tech. That capped a 25-point game, which equaled his career high (against Fort Wayne on Nov. 22, 2017).
Richards also grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds in posting his eighth double-double of the season.
Kentucky improved to 15-4 the hard way.
UK led 59-50 with less than seven minutes left. But with Davide Moretti (15 points) making six of seven free throws, Texas Tech got the game into overtime.
It helped that Moretti, who ranked seventh nationally in free-throw accuracy (91.5%), missed one with 18.4 seconds left.
Earlier, UK scored five points in the final 5.6 seconds of the first half to take a 36-34 lead. After a timeout with 18.3 seconds to go, Tyrese Maxey hit a turnaround floater.
Then after Tech carelessly threw away the inbounds pass, Immanuel Quickley (21 points) made a 3-point heave from near mid-court.
Going into the game, Kentucky had a 13-1 record when leading at halftime. The Cats were 1-3 when trailing.
Kyler Edwards led Texas Tech with 18 points
