The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Texas Tech's Red Raiders had incentive to beat their coach's alma mater.

"Coach was happy to come back home like anybody would be, so we wanted to come out today and play well to keep him in a good mood," guard Ronald Ross said after Sunday's 80-72 victory over Ohio State.

Andre Emmett had 27 points and Texas Tech, despite giving up 26 more shots from the field, beat Ohio State 80-72 in coach Bob Knight's return to his alma mater.

"I've never really forgotten about all Ohio State has done for me," said Knight, Ohio State class of 1962. "When I was here as a student and what it enabled me to do after that. I have felt deep down more for Ohio State than any of the schools I've coached."

Knight had not led a team into Columbus since the next-to-last team of his 29 seasons at Indiana was beaten 73-56 five years ago - his most lopsided loss ever against Ohio State. He had lost three in a row against the Buckeyes.

Devonne Giles added 17 points, Ross had 15 points and seven assists and Robert Tomaszek chipped in with 10 points for the Red Raiders (12-2), who have beaten three Big Ten opponents in the last 13 days. They defeated Iowa 65-59 in a game in Dallas and pounded Minnesota 90-73 on New Year's Day in Lubbock.

Emmett hit 10 of 19 shots from the field and 7 of 9 free throws and added 11 rebounds.

"We had no answer for Emmett - then again, a lot of teams haven't had an answer for him," Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien said. "Emmett is the best player we've played against and is maybe the best player in the country."

Nick Dials, a freshman walk-on given a scholarship just before the season started, led Ohio State (8-5) with 15 points. J.J. Sullinger added 12 and Tony Stockman 10. All three had horrible shooting days, combining to go 12-of-43 from the field.

Texas Tech came in holding opponents to 40.8 percent shooting from the field and continually frustrated the Buckeyes as they forced the ball inside to big men Velimir Radinovic, Terence Dials and Shun Jenkins - who frequently missed shots in close in heavy traffic. The Buckeyes made just 32.9 percent of their shots as their big men combined to hit 8 of 20 shots.

Ohio State was 26-of-79 from the field to the Red Raiders' 32-of-53 (60 percent).

"We had 13 turnovers and they had seven. They had 79 shots and we had 53," Knight said. "If I saw that stat before the game, I would have gone back to Lubbock."

Tech outscored the Buckeyes 46-28 in the paint in spite of Ohio State trying to go inside on almost every trip down the floor.

The Red Raiders took their first lead on Emmett's 14-foot jumper at 18:01 of the second half, part of a 6-0 run. The Buckeyes missed their first six shots of the half.

TEXAS TECH (12-2)-Dora 0-0 0-0 0, Tomaszek 5-7 0-1 10, Emmett 10-19 7-9 27, Jackson 4-4 0-0 8, Ross 7-10 0-0 15, Giles 5-11 7-10 17, White 0-1 0-0 0, Washington 0-0 0-0 0, Works 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 32-53 15-22 80.

OHIO STATE (8-5)-Sullinger 4-13 2-4 12, T.Dials 3-7 2-5 8, Radinovic 4-8 0-0 8, Stockman 4-18 0-0 10, N.Dials 4-12 4-4 15, Fuss-Cheatham 1-3 2-2 4, Harris 0-2 0-0 0, Nwankwo 4-9 0-0 9, Billings 0-0 2-3 2, Sylvester 0-1 0-0 0, Jenkins 1-5 0-3 2, Marinchick 1-1 0-0 2. Totals. 26-79 12-21 72.

Halftime-Ohio St. 37, Texas Tech 33. 3-point goals-Texas Tech 1-3 (Ross 1-2, White 0-1), Ohio St. 8-23 (N.Dials 3-7, Sullinger 2-4, Stockman 2-8, Nwankwo 1-3, Fuss-Cheatham 0-1). Fouled out-Sullinger, N.Dials. Rebounds-Texas Tech 40 (Emmett 11), Ohio St. 45 (Dials, Radinovic 8). Assists-Texas Tech 18 (Ross 7), Ohio St. 11 (N.Dials 3). Total fouls-Texas Tech 17, OSU. 22. A-19,200.