LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) – Bob Knight’s quest for record-setting victory No. 880 will have to wait until 2007.

Knight’s Texas Tech team fell behind UNLV early and never recovered, losing 74-66 Thursday night to leave him and Dean Smith tied atop the men’s Division I win list.

The Red Raiders trailed by 19 almost midway through the second half and the frustration might have gotten to Knight because he got his first technical of the season with 3:54 left. However, Tech was starting to rally then and kept it up, getting to 68-62 with 1:38 left.

Knight’s next chance to own the record by himself comes Monday in a New Year’s Day game at home against New Mexico. History is on his side because he’s never needed more than two tries to hit milestones such as 300, 400, 600, 700 and 800.

His first shot at this milestone drew a crowd of 15,098, one of the largest in school history, and included Knight pals Steve Alford, John Havlicek, Jerry Tarkanian and Fuzzy Zoeller.

The usually staid fans were into it from the start, giving Knight a standing ovation when he emerged before the game, with some chanting “Bob-by!”

Three students painted their bodies red and spelled out 8-8-0 in black on their chests. Another fan summed up Knight’s mood toward the inevitable accomplishment with a sign that read, “Let’s get this over with,” quotes and all.

But Knight’s motion offense and man-to-man defense both let him down.

AP-ES-12-28-06 2308EST