Culver leads Texas Tech over Zags to first Final Four berth

Texas Tech has reached the Final Four for the first time in school history.

The third seeded Red Raiders defeated No. 1 seed Gonzaga 75-69 on Saturday in the West Regional final.

Jarrett Culver, the Big 12 Player of the Year, led the Red Raiders with 19 points. Matt Mooney scored 17 and Davide Moretti added 12 for Texas Tech (30-6). The Red Raiders will play the Duke-Michigan State winner next Saturday in Minneapolis.

Rui Hachimura scored 22 points, Brandon Clarke scored 18 and Josh Perkins added 16 for Gonzaga (33-4).

Gonzaga led 37-35 at halftime after a first half that featured nine ties and nine lead changes.

Moretti hit a 3-pointer with just under four minutes remaining to put the Red Raiders up 63-58. He drained another three with 1:46 to play that gave the Red Raiders a six-point lead.

With about a minute to play and Tech ahead by six, Tech’s Tariq Owens blocked a 3-pointer by Hachimura, then saved the ball to a teammate. Replays showed Owens was out of bounds before the save, but the play was not reviewable. Tech’s Brandone Francis made one of two free throws to make it a seven-point lead with 52 seconds to play.