GAME NOTES: After suffering losses Monday in the opening round of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic, the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Houston Cougars will clash for the consolation prize Tuesday at Orleans Arena.

Texas Tech watched as an eight-game win streak come to an end Monday with a 62-44 loss to Loyola Chicago. The Red Raiders sport a 9-2 record coming into this matchup with Houston.

The Cougars have struggled a bit lately, having lost three straight games, including a heartbreaking 75-73 overtime contest against Boise State Monday in the opening round of the tournament. Houston is 5-4 on the season coming into this meeting.

The all-time series between the two sides is all squared up at 27 wins apiece. Texas Tech owns a 6-2 ledger against Houston on neutral site floors, which includes last season's 76-64 victory over the Cougars in Brooklyn.

Texas Tech put up an absolutely dismal offensive performance Monday against the Ramblers, as the Raiders shot just 34 percent from the floor, which included an 0-of-21 mark from 3-point distance in the contest. The 9-2 Red Raiders were led by 17 points from Justin Gray, while Robert Turner contributed 11 points in the loss. Texas Tech was outrebounded in the game, 39-29, and was decimated in bench scoring, 39-9. At least the Raiders held a 30-20 advantage in scoring in the paint.

The harmony between Texas Tech's offense and defense was palpable entering Monday's clash with Loyola Chicago, though things fell apart on Monday. The Red Raiders came into the Las Vegas Classic netting 72.4 ppg offensively, and then turned around and holding opponents to just 56.3 ppg defensively. But it just wasn't there Monday night. Williams was the only player on Texas Tech's roster netting a double-digit scoring total coming into the tournament, averaging 11.4 ppg on a healthy 47.6 shooting percentage. Norense Odiase (9.4 ppg) is behind Williams on the scoring list, but he and Zach Smith both came into the classic tied atop the team's rebounding list at 5.5 boards per outing.

Houston started very slow against Boise State Monday night, trailing the Broncos by nine points heading into the intermission after shooting just 28.6 percent from the field. But the Cougars made a run back in the second half to knot the score at 62-62 at the end of regulation. A 3-point try by Jherrod Stiggers at the overtime buzzer fell short, and Houston was handed the loss. L.J. Rose netted 16 points to pace the team, while Danrad Knowles contributed a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards. Devonta Pollard (12 points, nine rebounds), Stiggers (11 points) and LeRon Barnes (10) all scored in double figures in the loss.

Houston entered the Las Vegas Classic with an affinity for the offensive end of the floor. The Cougars came into Monday night's clash against Boise State netting 69.6 ppg on 37.7 percent shooting from the floor. Stiggers' 16.1 ppg was the best scoring average on the team, followed by Pollard's 12.4 ppg and Eric Weary Jr.'s 11.5 ppg. But the defense wasn't holding up its weight, allowing opponents to score 67.5 ppg entering Monday's contest. Pollard and LeRon Barnes have been tenacious on the glass this season, as Pollard led the team on Monday by grabbing 7.9 rpg, with Barnes right behind at 7.8 rpg.

Texas Tech needs to outperform Monday's night's abomination. For starters, the team will need to pick it up from beyond the 3-point arc. Houston played well against Boise State, and battled back from a first-half deficit to take a second-period lead. The Cougars won't be an easy elimination, especially if the Raiders perform anywhere close to Monday's night's showing.