Final Score: (6) Texas 24, Texas Tech 14

Lubbock, TX (Sports Network) - Garrett Gilbert overcame a three-interception night by throwing for 227 yards with a pair of touchdowns, as No. 6 Texas shut out Texas Tech in the second half to hold on for a 24-14 victory in a turnover-filled Big 12 opener for both programs.

Gilbert completed 21-of-36 throws, six going to James Kirkendoll for 122 yards, as the Longhorns (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) stuffed the Red Raiders for 144 total yards, including a negative-14 effort on the ground to seal the win.

"We were pretty dominating [defensively]," Texas head coach Mack Brown said. "I thought the defensive staff did a tremendous job, played a lot of guys, keeping guys fresh."

Taylor Potts was picked off twice and completed 21-of-35 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown for Texas Tech (2-1, 0-1), which was coming off wins over SMU and New Mexico to open the season.

Texas jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the first 6 1/2 minutes. A bad snap on the Red Raiders' first play from scrimmage resulted in a lost fumble at their own seven, and on the next play, Foswhitt Whittaker ran it in for a TD.

The hosts went three-and-out and Kirkendoll's 33-yard reception preceded Mike Davis' seven-yard grab in the back of the end zone.

The Longhorns got deep in enemy territory on their next two possessions, only to have Gilbert get picked off, the latter of which was a tipped ball that Jarvis Phillips returned 87 yards for a score late in the opening quarter.

Texas Tech continued to gain momentum and tied it when Potts hit Lyle Leong for a 15-yard score a little more than three minutes into the second stanza.

Gilbert was again intercepted in the red zone a few possessions later, and it was 14-all going into the break.

Potts returned the favor on the first possession of the second half, with Curtis Brown taking the pick 74 yards the other way down to the opposing 12 yard-line to set up Justin Tucker's 27-yard field goal.

Texas Tech failed to capitalize on a Kirkendoll fumble near midfield later in the quarter, and Texas held the ball for 9 1/2 minutes going into the fourth, aided by Ryan Roberson's run for a first down on a successful fake punt at the Longhorns' own 29.

Barrett Matthews capped the 22-play, time-consuming march by hauling in a one- yard TD pass off a play-action fake 4 1/2 minutes in. The drive was extended on Will Ford's personal foul penalty after an incompletion on 3rd-and-13 from the TTU 27.

After trading punts, the Red Raiders turned it over on downs with 3 1/2 minutes remaining, and Texas held on from there.

"We just didn't execute like we needed to. That's what it came down to in the end," Potts admitted.

Game Notes

Since coach Mack Brown took the reins back in 1998, the Longhorns are 11-2 in Big 12 openers. They have also won 13 straight conference games...Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville turned 56 on Saturday...Texas owns a 44-15 advantage in the all-time series...The 144 yards of total offense for Texas Tech was the fewest the Longhorns have yielded to the Red Raiders since 1982...Whittaker ended with 55 yards on 15 carries...Phillips had two interceptions...Texas hosts UCLA next Saturday, while Texas Tech has an off week before heading to Iowa State.