Brad Tollefson

Professional Photojournalist

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Texas Tech vs. Northern Kentucky NCAA Tournament First Round 2019

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This week Carlos, Matt and I traveled up to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech returned to the NCAA tournament for a second straight season as the No. 3 seed, facing off against No. 14 Northern Kentucky. With each first/second round site hosting eight teams, there was plenty of basketball to watch and photograph.

A March Madness basketball on the court during the NCAA tournament first round game between Texas Tech and Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
A March Madness basketball on the court during the NCAA tournament first round game between Texas Tech and Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Before the game against Northern Kentucky

On the day before game day, there were practice and interview sessions to shoot at the arena. All eight teams held public practices allowing fans to watch from the stands.

Before the game, fans gathered at the team hotel to send the players off to the BOK Center. Matt and I rushed to the hotel and back to catch some quick photos and video. Here’s the video I quickly knocked out before the game began.

First Half

Texas Tech's Tariq Owens (11) tips the ball away from Northern Kentucky's Dantez Walton (32) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Tariq Owens (11) tips the ball away from Northern Kentucky’s Dantez Walton (32) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Owens made 12 points and five blocks during the win. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech's Norense Odiase (32) shoots the ball over Northern Kentucky's Drew McDonald (34) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Norense Odiase (32) shoots the ball over Northern Kentucky’s Drew McDonald (34) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Odiase scored four points, with three rebounds and two assists in the game. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (23) lays up the ball during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver (23) lays up the ball during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Culver scored 29 points during the 72-57 win against the Norse. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech coach Chris Beard yells out to his players during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech coach Chris Beard yells out to his players during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech's Matt Mooney (13) and Northern Kentucky's Jalen Tate (11) fight for control of the ball during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Matt Mooney (13) and Northern Kentucky’s Jalen Tate (11) fight for control of the ball during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Mooney earned five steals during the game. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Northern Kentucky coach John Brannen talks to referee Mike Reed during the NCAA tournament first round game against Texas Tech, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Northern Kentucky coach John Brannen talks to referee Mike Reed during the NCAA tournament first round game against Texas Tech, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Days after the loss, John Brannen was hired as the new coach at the University of Cincinnati. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (23) shoots the ball around around Northern Kentucky's and Chris Vogt (33) Northern Kentucky's Jalen Tate (11) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver (23) shoots the ball around Northern Kentucky’s Chris Vogt (33) and Jalen Tate (11) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Culver had eight rebounds and seven assists in the game. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Second Half

Texas Tech cheerleaders on the court during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech cheerleaders on the court during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. The cheerleaders and Goin’ Band traveled to every tournament game of the postseason. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech's Matt Mooney (13) drives the ball around Northern Kentucky's Zaynah Robinson (5) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Matt Mooney (13) drives the ball around Northern Kentucky’s Zaynah Robinson (5) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Mooney received eight assists in the victory. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech coach Chris Beard talks to his players during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech coach Chris Beard talks to his players during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech's Davide Moretti (25) recovers the ball during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Davide Moretti (25) recovers the ball during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Moretti scored 10 points during the game. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech coach Chris Beard celebrates on the court during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech coach Chris Beard celebrates on the court during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech fans catch t-shirts in the crowd during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech fans catch t-shirts in the crowd during the NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky, Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. A large number of Red Raider fans were in attendance for the game. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech's Matt Mooney (13) shoots the ball over Northern Kentucky's Jalen Tate (11) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Matt Mooney (13) shoots the ball over Northern Kentucky’s Jalen Tate (11) during the NCAA tournament first round game Friday, March 22, 2019, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Mooney scored nine points during the game. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

After the game

Here is what Texas Tech coach Chris Beard had to say after the win over the Norse.

Finally, the full slideshow of the first round game against Northern Kentucky can be found on A-J’s website. While you’re at it, check out my post from the second-round game against Buffalo. And the photos from the rest of the season.