Shooting 21.7% from 3-point range and 57.1% from the free-throw line is usually recipe for a loss.
Tuesday night's game between BYU and Texas Tech was no different as the Cougars fell to the Red Raiders 72-67.
Three days after a 31-point loss to Houston, BYU played a much more competitive game against Texas Tech. In total, there was 15 lead changes between the two teams.
With eight minutes left in the game, BYU freshman guard Egor Demin hit a wide open layup to go up by five. That capped of an impressive stretch where BYU's two-man game between Demin and Fousseyni Traore overpowered Tech's defense.
But in the final eight minutes of the game, it was all Texas Tech.
Powered by hot shooting from Chance McMillian, Elijah Hawkins, and Darion Williams — who all shot over 50% from the field and scored over 15 points — the Red Raiders outscored the Cougars 24-14 to finish the game.
Hawkins, who hit six 3-pointers for 22 points, was the killer for BYU. Before Tuesday's game, Hawkins was averaging only 7.7 points per game.
"I'm a pass first point guard. Everybody always thinks that," Hawkins said, "but [my teammates and coaches] always tell me to go out and play and shoot the ball."
BYU was forced to play differently from their usual game plan. The Cougars' 30.2 3-point attempts per game is the most in the Big 12, but it was their play down low that kept this game tight.
In the first 12 minutes of the game, BYU's only points came from inside the paint and at the free throw line. They outscored Texas Tech 22-10 in first half paint points.
This surprising style of play led to senior transfer, Mawot Mag, logging 21 minutes and scoring a season-high 11 points off the bench. He also provided a much needed physical presence on defense.
"His energy... he came in and played real hard," coach Kevin Young said about Mag. "He helped us quite a bit."
BYU had multiple chances to tie the game late, but defensive breakdowns led to easy buckets for Texas Tech, and BYU's missed free throws made the lead that much bigger.
Free throw shooting has been a struggle for the Cougars all season. Their 69.7% from the line is bottom five in the Big 12.
On Tuesday, BYU shot 12 of 21 from the stripe.
"We got to make free throws to win close games," a frustrated Young said after the game.
Just as frustrating for BYU might have been their 3-point shooting. The 5 of 23 shooting from deep made for BYU's worst 3-point performance all season.
Young said his confidence level is "extremely high" that BYU's 3-point shooting will improve.
This loss marked the second in a row for the Cougars as they fall to 10-4 on the season and 1-2 in conference play.
Texas Tech improves to 11-3 and 2-1 in the Big 12.
BYU will travel to Fort Worth on Jan. 11 to face a struggling TCU team.