The Latest: Texas Tech beats Gonzaga to reach Final Four

The Latest on the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament (all times Eastern):

8:30 p.m.

Texas Tech is going to the Final Four for the first time in school history.

Jarrett Culver scored 19 points and the third-seeded Red Raiders produced a suffocating defense in the second half to beat No. 1 seed Gonzaga 75-69 in the West Region final.

Neither team led by more than seven points in a game that featured 11 ties and 15 lead changes.

Texas Tech led 71-69 with 11 seconds left when Gonzaga’s Josh Perkins committed a technical foul by making contact with Matt Mooney, who was out of bounds attempting an inbounds pass. Texas Tech went 4 of 4 on free-throw attempts the rest of the way to seal the victory.

Gonzaga entered the day leading all Division I teams in scoring and field-goal percentage, while Texas Tech ranked second in field-goal percentage defense.

Texas Tech’s defense won that matchup, as Gonzaga shot just 36.4 percent overall and 3 of 15 from 3-point range in the second half.

Rui Hachimura scored 22 points for Gonzaga. Brandon Clarke added 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Zags were bidding for their second Final Four berth in three years.

Texas Tech is the first team from the Lone Star State to make a Final Four since Texas got there in 2003.

-Beth Harris reporting from Anaheim, California

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7:45 p.m.

Texas Tech’s stingy defense has helped the Red Raiders pull ahead in the West Region final as they chase their first Final Four berth.

The Red Raiders have scored six straight points to grab a 53-50 lead over top-seeded Gonzaga with 10:30 left.

After shooting 50 percent in the first half, Gonzaga has gone 5 of 15 to start the second half.

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7:40 p.m.

Gonzaga and Texas Tech continue to go back and forth early in the second half of the West Region final.

Rui Hachimura has 19 points to help Gonzaga own a 50-49 advantage with 11:35 left. Brandon Clarke has 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Gonzaga has a commanding 28-15 rebounding edge but is only outscoring Texas Tech 6-4 in second-chance points.

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7:05 p.m.

Gonzaga leads Texas Tech 37-35 in the West Region final after a first half that featured nine ties and nine lead changes.

Rui Hachimura has scored 13 points for Gonzaga, the No. 1 seed in the region. Brandon Clarke has 10 points and put Gonzaga ahead on a tiebreaking dunk with 14 seconds left.

Clarke also has five of Gonzaga’s nine turnovers.

Gonzaga is shooting 50 percent from the floor. Gonzaga leads all Division I teams in field-goal percentage, while Texas Tech ranks second in field-goal percentage defense.

Matt Mooney has 11 points for third-seeded Texas Tech, which is seeking to reach the Final Four for the first time ever.

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6:40 p.m.

The West Region final shaped up as a matchup between Gonzaga’s efficient offense and Texas Tech’s suffocating defenses.

But so far, Texas Tech has shown it’s capable of matching Gonzaga shot for shot.

Texas Tech leads 31-2 with less than six minutes left in the first half. Texas Tech is shooting 50 percent overall and 5 of 10 from 3-point range.

Gonzaga leads all Division I teams in scoring (88.2) and field-goal percentage (.528).

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6:20 p.m.

Texas Tech is facing some early adversity in its West Region final with Gonzaga.

Norense Odiase picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, which means the Red Raiders likely will play much of the first half without their starting center.

Gonzaga leads Texas Tech 9-8 with 15:23 left in the first half

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5 p.m.

Auburn forward Chuma Okeke will miss the remainder of the NCAA Tournament after tearing the ACL in his left knee late in the fifth-seeded Tigers’ regional semifinal victory over North Carolina.

The 6-foot-8 sophomore had already scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds when his knee buckled on the way to the basket Friday night. Okeke immediately grabbed it and rolled around on the floor, and his team and several Tar Heels players gathered around him.

Tigers coach Bruce Pearl said Okeke will have surgery Tuesday.

Auburn torched the Tar Heels with 17 3-pointers in its 97-80 semifinal victory. Now, the Tigers face second-seeded Kentucky on Sunday for a spot in their first Final Four.

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4:30 p.m.

Freshman forward Cam Reddish will be a game-time decision for Duke’s Elite Eight NCAA Tournament game Sunday against Michigan State because of a knee injury.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski updated Reddish’s status Saturday before the Blue Devils’ practice, saying there was no structural damage. Reddish was a late scratch for the Sweet 16 victory against Virginia Tech.

Reddish said his left knee has been bothering him for some time and that he tweaked it before the game. Reddish said he considers himself hour to hour as he gets treatment for the injury.

Top-seeded Duke beat Virginia Tech without Reddish thanks in large part to Alex O’Connell filling his spot. Reddish is Duke’s third-leading scorer behind stars RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson, averaging 13.6 points this season.

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Strength on strength will determine the first two spots in the Final Four on Saturday night.

Gonzaga and the best offense in Division I will face Texas Tech and the nation’s best defense in the West regional final.

The South Region will have a similar vibe with high-scoring guard Carsen Edwards and Purdue playing Virginia and its stingy defense.

No. 1 seed Gonzaga (33-3) whips the ball around, five players often touching the ball in a matter of seconds to set up the best shot possible. They have the most efficient offense, according to KenPom.com.

Texas Tech (29-6) turned its Sweet 16 game against Michigan into a stomping. Texas Tech closed up the middle, contested jumpers and turned away nearly everything the Wolverines attempted at the rim.

In the South, top-seeded Virginia has made its calling card defense under coach Tony Bennett.

Virginia has yet to allow more 54 points in this NCAA Tournament.

Now Virginia has the challenge of guarding Edwards. The junior guard averages 23.8 points per game despite constant attention from opposing defenses. He and can be nearly unstoppable when he gets hot.

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