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MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: TEXAS TECH VS. NORTH TEXAS 6:30 P.M. TUESDAY UNITED SUPERMARKETS ARENA On the other side Red Raider basketball fans will see a familiar face on the opposing bench as Tony Benford returns to Lubbock. Benford, a four year letterwinner at Texas Tech from 1983 to 1986, was a part of two Southwest Conference Tournament title teams (1985 and 1986) and the 1985 SWC regular season champion. He earned all-league honors as a senior, as well as Most Valuable Player of the SWC Tournament. Benford wore No. 34, scored 1,009 career points (35th all-time) and played in 121 games (6th all-time). He was chosen by the Boston Celtics in the fourth round of the 1986 NBA Draft and then played professionally in Holland during the 1986-87 season. Beard’s North Texas ties Chris Beard’s first Division I job was at North Texas. After serving as a graduate assistant at Incarnate Word (1995-96) and an assistant at Abilene Christian (1996-97), Beard was hired as an assistant coach at North Texas in 1997. “I have a lot of respect for all the people at North Texas,” the Texas Tech coach said. “I’m very proud of my association (with them). I was an assistant there under Vic Trilli in the late 90s. It’s a program I have a lot of respect for. I know we’ll have to play well. Coach Benford does a great job and has good players. It will be a real test for us.” Beard stayed at North Texas until he took his first head coach position at Fort Scott Community College in 1999. read more: http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2016-11-14/fast-break-texas-tech-hosts-north-texas