LUBBOCK, Texas -- A new Texas Tech basketball season was led by one of its several new faces.

Wyoming transfer guard Damarion Dennis, one of the Tech's nine newcomers, set a new career-high with 22 points off the bench as the No. 19-ranked Red Raiders beat Jackson State 76-42 at the United Supermarkets Arena Monday night.

The win improves Texas Tech to 4-0 in season openers under head coach Grant McCasland and extends the program's non-conference home winning streak to 47 games.

Dennis was 8-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. He matched his career-high, which he set twice last season with the Cowboys, on a pair of 3-pointers from the left wing and a turnaround jumper early in the second half. Dennis reached 22 points for a new personal high with a free throw late in the second half.

Outside of Dennis' spark, the Red Raiders spent much of the opener knocking off rust offensively. Tech shot 45 percent from the field and 23 percent from beyond the arc.

However, the defense looked to be in midseason form. Jackson State, who was 12-21 last season in the SWAC, was held to 29 percent shooting, 21 percent from distance.

The Tigers started the ballgame packing the midrange with a zone defense, which encouraged the Red Raiders to let it fly from the perimeter. By the first media timeout, Tech had hit just one of its first five shots, a 3-pointer by Cruz Davis.

Texas Tech went on a 12-1 run with Dennis scoring eight quick points. Dennis led the Red Raiders in scoring with 11 points in their exhibition loss at Kentucky last week.

Dennis' fast-break slam off a steal from Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn forced a Jackson State timeout midway through the first half.

Later on, Gibbs-Lawhorn reached the 1,000 points mark for his collegiate career. The junior guard spent time at Illinois and UNLV before joining the Red Raiders this offseason.

Texas Tech's defense forced the Tigers into 10 first-half giveaways and 24 for the game. Davis ended with six steals and conducted a Red Raiders offense that scored 29 points off turnovers.

On the interior, Texas Tech was led by Josiah Moseley, who in 24 minutes off the bench posted 13 points and eight rebounds. Moseley figures to be a key contributor in the frontcourt while JT Toppin (knee) and Jamichael Stillwell (eligibility) are unavailable in the five-game homestand to start the season.

Texas Tech closed the first half on a 16-2 run, holding the Tigers to just 25 percent shooting in the opening period.

Davis (15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) got into double figures scoring as he cruised to the cup on Tech's first play of the second half. The defense picked up where it left off by forcing Jackson State into a shot-clock violation on the Tigers' first possession out of halftime.

Texas Tech saw limited production from Donovan Atwell (4 points on 0/8 shooting) and Darrion Williams (1 point on 0/3 shooting), two of Tech's veteran fan-favorites.

The Red Raiders held a lead as large as 38 in the second half.

Texas Tech's next game is at home against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, Nov. 5. Following that one, Tech will host its first ranked game of the season as preseason No. 3 Illinois comes to Lubbock.

Jackson State, who plays 15 road games to begin the season, travels to Tulane on Thursday.

Source: Yahoo Sports