It wouldn't be a Texas Tech basketball game without a single-digit margin in the final minutes.

Once again, the 15th-ranked Red Raiders were in a dog fight to the finish in United Supermarkets Arena, this time unable to make magic at home in a 75-72 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday.

Tech dropped to 16-5 overall and 5-3 in Big 12 play. The Bearcats moved to 15-7 and 4-5.

No Lamar Washington tightens up Texas Tech basketball rotation

Versatile guard Lamar Washington missed Saturday's game due to illness. One of Texas Tech's three main reserves, Washington has provided nice boosts off the bench for the Red Raiders throughout the season, even playing above his natural guard position in Tech's smaller lineups.

In his absence, D'Maurian Williams got his first action since the Jan. 1 contest against North Alabama. He played 93 seconds in the half as Grant McCasland stuck with his other seven regulars.

Robert Jennings had the biggest impact of the first half. Spelling Warren Washington, who had two fouls with more than eight minutes left in the half, Jennings stepped in beautifully. By the break, he had a new career-high of 10 points, brought in three offensive rebounds and gave the Red Raiders their first halftime lead (37-36) since the Jan. 9 contest against Oklahoma State.

Struggle bus

On top of Washington's absence, Joe Toussaint picked up his fourth foul with 10:29 left in the game, Isaacs was visibly frustrated trying to get around the defense of Cincinnati's John Newman III and Warren Washington wasn't on the Tech bench to start the second half.

A mixture of struggles, plus Cincinnati's relentlessness on the offensive glass, gave the Bearcats a 57-54 lead with 6:53 left in the game. The Bearcats had 16 offensive boards at this point of the game, which they turned into 11 second-chance points.

Home crowd couldn't will this victory

The Red Raiders have been known for home comebacks with the Tech fans supporting them. Though the team was able to stay in the game probably longer than it should have considering the play on the court, the Red Raider faithful wasn't able to get this one.

Tech is now 11-1 at home this season.

What's next?

The Red Raiders head to Waco on Tuesday to take on Baylor at 8 p.m. in the newly-opened Foster Pavilion. Tech will then have back-to-back home games against UCF and Kansas.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Cincinnati hands Texas Tech basketball its first home loss of season