Texas Tech freshman plays roles of hero, goat in same game

Friday, Dec. 17, 2004 | 9:43 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Just like Martin Zeno could ease into a hero's role someday, he'll also learn the unwanted role about leading his team in defeat. Zeno, Texas Tech's true freshman forward, received a taste of both Thursday.

Ohio State (6-2) benefited from a series of mistakes by Zeno down the stretch, pulling away late for a 77-71 victory against Tech (5-2) before an announced crowd of 9,624 at American Airlines Center.

Tech's return to AAC for a nonconference game after last season's victory against Iowa was headed to the wire until a series of missed shots and a crucial turnover by Zeno in the final 2:50 left the Raiders out of chances.

Zeno, the Louisiana native who has closed the collegiate learning gap quickly in just seven games, finished with a team and career-high 20 points and had seven rebounds to go with three assists. Ohio State couldn't keep him out of the lane, but his youth probably led to a lack of finishing touch.

His two consecutive buckets knotted the game at 71 with 3:45 to play. Ohio State had led by 13 in the first half and 11 in the second, but Tech wouldn't go away.

"The game was decided in the last three minutes," said Tech coach Bob Knight, an Ohio State graduate who saw his Tech team win in Colmbus, Ohio, last season. "We did some things to come back from that deficit, but they just played much better than us in the last three minutes."

Tech made 10 of 17 field goals to start the second half, but went 4-for-12 in the game's final 7:19. That included and 0-for-4 finish, one of which was a shot by Zeno after he missed a block-out, and before he threw the ball away. Ohio State's Matt Sylvester also snared a rebound away from Tech's John Ofoegbu. Darryl Dora and Jarrius Jackson also had late misses.

"We didn't let them back in it; Tech got itself back in it," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "We had no answers for Zeno. The biggest thing, win, lose, whatever, is I just wanted us to play better ball. I thought we did that."

Women's Top 25

Tiffany Jackson added 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Longhorns (5-2), who are 9-0 all-time against North Texas. Texas trailed 34-31 at halftime, but opened the second half with a 14-4 run to take a 45-38 lead with 10:50 left.

Carey topped her 28-point performance against New Mexico on Dec. 4.

Kiemona Harris added 16 points for the Lady Cougars (9-0).

Janevia Taylor led Hawaii (3-3) with 15 points but couldn't prevent the Rainbow Wahine from losing its 18th consecutive game to a ranked opponent.