AUSTIN, Texas _ Texas guard Kerwin Roach Jr. wasn't supposed to play Wednesday. He really wasn't even expected back this week at all. That fractured left hand injury was supposed to sideline him another week.
But Roach, who could barely dribble in the second half against Baylor, came roaring back to the court on Wednesday against No. 8 Texas Tech. He set a new season high with 20 points and threw down a vicious dunk with 2:05 remaining to cap a 67-58 upset win.
Texas Tech (15-3, 4-2 Big 12) has not won in Austin since Feb. 24, 1996. The vast majority of players on both rosters Wednesday had not been born yet. The Longhorns (12-6, 3-3) are now even in Big 12 play. It was UT's first win over a top-10 opponent since Feb. 2016.
Roach was scheduled to have another X-ray this week on his fractured hand, which kept him out of the last two games. But he was all over the place against the Red Raiders. Roach, a career 62.4 percent shooter at the free-throw line, even went 8 for 9 at the stripe. He also played sensational defense on Tech's Keenan Evans, who had an off night with just 11 points.
Texas' big men Mo Bamba and Dylan Osetkowski stepped up their intensity, too. Bamba had 15 points, including a windmill dunk and reverse tip-in in the first half. Osetkowski had 12 points and five rebounds.
