De’Vion Harmon returns to former playing stop as Texas Tech takes on Oklahoma
Whether he wants it or not, the spotlight will shine bright on De’Vion Harmon when Texas Tech hits the road for a Big 12 Conference contest.
Harmon, an Oregon transfer guard, will return to the place he first called home when the Red Raiders face off against Oklahoma at 8 p.m. Tuesday inside the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
“I got a two-year history there,” Harmon said of his time at Oklahoma following a high school career at Denton Guyer. ”I’m excited to go back because it’s my first time back in two years. So, I got a ton of people coming. I got like 30-some people coming to game.
“I’m excited, but the biggest thing is that we have to find a way to get another road win. I’m just gonna keep that in my mind frame.”
That is the key for the Red Raiders, who are in the midst of three-game winning streak and revived their chances at an NCAA Tournament berth, following a gut-check 78-72 road win over West Virginia. It marked the third time Texas Tech won in Morgantown, while head coach Mark Adams secured his second triumph in as many tries.
Harmon did his part, scoring 15 points to help keep the offense humming. The addition of Pop Isaacs, who chipped in 15 points off the bench after missing the past six games healing a sprained ankle he suffered in the first matchup with the Mountaineers.
Fardaws Aimaq, who’s been dealing with an injured foot, turned in his best performance of the season with a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double in 33 minutes. The Utah Valley transfer post helped the Red Raiders outrebound West Virginia 39-28, including a 15-10 edge on offensive boards and 42-18 advantage in point in the paint.
It was a statement game for Texas Tech (15-12, 4-10), according to Harmon.
“West V came here and they kicked our tail on the glass. I mean, absolutely just kicked our tail on the glass,” he said, recalling losing the rebounding battle 44-27 in a 76-61 loss back on Jan. 25. ”There would be times where they would get two shots up and two or three shots in one possession — couldn’t get a rebound.
“It wasn’t about making or missing shots. It was a bout getting stops and the other part of defense is rebounding. And we did an amazing job on the boards. And that’s how we won the game.”
It also helped to have Jaylon Tyson pour in a career-best 27 points.
“Professional basketball player, that’s what I saw,” Harmon said of Tyson, following a career day last Saturday at West Virginia. “Best thing about our team is anybody can go get buckets like that — 20-plus. KO’s (Kevin Obanor) done it, Pop’s (Isaacs) done it, I’ve done it. JT had a day. It was smooth.
“He was playing within the flow of the game. They were all good shots. … As long as we stay together as a team, no matter what happens on offense — whether making or missing shots. If we can get stops down the stretch, then I’m going to take our chances every night.”
Tyson and Harmon’s success could be attributed to the aggressive nature on the offensive end that has seen the Red Raiders utilize more pick-and-roll at the top of the key. With Harmon and other playmakers, who can get to the rim, Texas Tech is forcing defenses to make a decision.
”Spent a lot of time in the film room,” Harmon said. ”Try to find different things. Keep spacing, keep getting downhill. Not just me, but when we’re all attacking, anytime you can put pressure on the rim, pressure on the defense, we’re got shooters that can always kick it back out. And that’s big.
“When we have spacing out there, we’re a hard team handle.”
The same could be said about the Sooners (13-14, 3-10), who are looking to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.
“Oklahoma’s in a similar situation that we’re in,” Adams said. ”Both teams need to win and we’re both fighting for our lives. And they’ve played really well the last couple of games as we’ve have.
We’re expecting another dogfight as all the Big 12 games are.”
Oklahoma was just in a nip-and-tuck contest, falling 85-83 in overtime to then No. 6 Texas at last week in Austin.
Grant Sherfield, who made a 3-pointer to force overtime, finished with a team-best 18 points that including making a quartet of treys. Milos Uzan (15 points), Joe Bamisile (13 points), Sam Godwin (12 points) ans Jalen Hill (11 points) rounded out the double-figure scorers for OU.
“Our emphasis is going to know where (Grant) Sherfield is, No. 25,” Adams said of the Red Raiders gameplan against OU. ”He’s a great three-point shooting guard that can score off the dribble. So we have to locate him in transition and make sure we get a hand up when he shoot those shots. … We like to push the ball and they’re exceptional getting back and guarding the three and the basket.
“We’re going to have some patience and be able to move the ball against them.”
He was playing within the flow of the game. They were all good shots.
TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Okla.
Records: 15-12, 4-10, Oklahoma 13-14, 3-11
TV: ESPN2
Radio: FM 97.3
Fast fact(s): De’Vion Harmon is averaging 19.4 points over the last five games — eclipsing the 20-point mark in three of those contests. The reigning Big 12 Player of the Week leads the Red Raiders in offense with 15.1 points per Big 12 game.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
Team, Big 12 record, Overall record
No. 3 Kansas 10-4, 22-5
No. 8 Texas 10-4, 21-6
No. 9 Baylor 9-5, 20-7
No. 14 Kansas State 8-6, 20-7
No. 23 Iowa State 8-6, 17-9
No. 24 TCU 7-7, 18-9
Oklahoma State 7-7, 16-11
Texas Tech 4-10, 15-12
West Virginia 4-10, 15-12
Oklahoma 3-11, 13-14
TUESDAY SCHEDULE
Baylor at Kansas State, 6 p.m (ESPN2)
Iowa State at Texas, 8 p.m. (LHN)
Texas Tech at Oklahoma, (ESPN2)
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: De’Vion Harmon returns to former playing stop as Texas Tech takes on Oklahoma
