COLLEGE SPORTS BRIEFS: Tech's Morris garners Big 12 newcomer accolade

Texas Tech's Andrew Morris was named the Big 12 newcomer of the week on Monday.

It marked the first career Big 12 weekly award for the junior, who transferred from Colorado Mesa.

The right-handed pitcher threw six innings Friday night to help the Red Raiders claim an extra-inning victory over Texas. He allowed one run, surrendering a leadoff home run to the game's first batter. He settled down and struck out seven and kept the Longhorns off the board for the remainder of his outing to put the team in a position to win the first of two games in the series.

More: Texas Tech beats UT as Wilson steals home in 10th inning

Tech men's basketball

Mark Adams may have to fill out a spot on his coaching staff.

Talvin Hester, an assistant on Adams' inaugural staff at Texas Tech, reportedly will be the new head coach at Louisiana Tech. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported the news first on Twitter.

Hester, who came to Lubbock from Louisiana Tech where he worked under Eric Konkol, is reportedly headed back to a familiar place for his 22nd season of coaching and first as the head coach of a program. Konkol filled the head coaching vacancy at Tulsa.

Along with Louisiana Tech, Hester also has coached at Oral Roberts, Houston, Texas State, SFA, San Jose State, Prairie View A&M, Texas College, Texas Wesleyan and North Lake College during his career.

He was the lead recruiter for Kevin Obanor, who joined Oral Roberts and transferred to Texas Tech last season. Obanor, who has recorded a double-double in all six NCAA Tournament games he's played in, would be eligible to return for another season.

All in his hands: Kevin Obanor's decision to transfer to Texas Tech was last-second

Tech track and field

The Texas Tech women's team was ranked a program-best No. 2 and the Tech men No. 5 in the weekly performance-based ratings released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Tech, Texas and Texas A&M all have both their men's and women's teams ranked in the top five.

The Red Raiders host the Masked Rider Open on Friday and Saturday at the Fuller Track Complex.

Tech men's basketball

Another Red Raider could be on his way out with college eligibility remaining.

Kevin McCullar Jr. announced via Twitter on Sunday night that he will be declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft while maintaining the final two years of his collegiate eligibility.

More: Texas Tech's Kevin McCullar declares for NBA Draft, will maintain eligibility

McCullar plans to take a similar approach to the one the Red Raiders' Terrence Shannon Jr. and Kevin Obanor took last year. McCullar will spend the next few weeks gauging his NBA draft prospects before he makes a final decision whether to keep his name in consideration or return to college.

The 6-foot-6 junior from San Antonio Wagner was third on the team with 10.1 points per game and second in rebounding with a 4.6 average. He shot 40% from the field, 31% from 3-point range and 73% from the free-throw line.

Shannon previously announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. Though he was a senior this season, Obanor still has a year of college eligibility.

More: Texas Tech basketball's Terrence Shannon Jr. enters transfer portal, considering return

The deadline to declare for the draft is April 24 with the draft combine set for May 16-22 in Chicago.

McCullar has until 11:59 p.m. on June 1 to withdraw his name from the draft and return to college.

Tech men's golf

PALM CITY, Fla. — Texas Tech golfer Ludvig Aberg shot 67-68 in Monday's first two rounds of the Valspar Collegiate, putting him in a tie for fifth place at 7-under on the par-71 course.

The Red Raiders are 4-under as a team, tied for eighth in the 15-team field. They shot 4-under over the first 18 holes and even par over their second 18.

Tech's Baard Skogen (69-70) is tied for 21st out of 81 players. Rounding out the Red Raiders' lineup are Calum Scott (73-72), Kyle Hogan (71-78) and Sandy Scott (76-74).

Late in the round, defending national champion Pepperdine was at 29-under, followed by Arizona State at 14-under and North Carolina at 12-under.

The final round is Tuesday.

LCU softball

Lubbock Christian University's Taylor Franco was named the Lone Star Conference pitcher of the week after she threw a no-hitter Sunday in a 3-0 win over top-ranked UT Tyler.

The senior righthander from Monahans struck out four and walked three in the seven-inning game. She improved to 14-1 and is the LSC co-leader in pitching wins this season.

Franco has four no-hitters this season and five in her career, both LCU records.

She also struck out 10 over six innings on Friday in a start against No. 21 Texas A&M-Commerce. She left with a 6-3 lead in a game the Lady Chaps lost 9-6.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: COLLEGE SPORTS BRIEFS: Texas Tech's Morris garners Big 12 newcomer accolade