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Senior Dijon Thompson is walked off the court for the last time of his college career as the Brui

TUCSON, Ariz. — The rivers of sweat had not yet dried on Jordan Farmar’s forehead Thursday night, yet the UCLA guard had already begun to look ahead. Leaning against a wall in the Bruin locker room, a few minutes after UCLA’s 78-66 loss to Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the McKale Center, Farmar declared that he would not lose this early in March again.

“I won’t let it happen a second time,” he said. “As disappointed as I am, it’s going to make me work harder because I never want to feel like this again.

It was a bitter ending to an otherwise sweet season for the Bruins, and another learning experience for a heralded freshman trio that had hoped to lead 11th-seeded UCLA (18-11) deep into March.

Farmar rushed a flurry of second-half shots that helped sixth-seeded Texas Tech put the game away. Arron Afflalo allowed two early fouls to take him out of his offensive rhythm. And Josh Shipp, despite a superb 11-point first half, was not a factor offensively after the break, yielding to his teammates and only converting one second-half basket.

The result was a loss that demonstrated both how far UCLA has come since back-to-back losing seasons and how far the program still has to go to regain its elite status.

“This team had so much potential this year,” Afflalo said. “We had a lot of talent, and throughout the course of the season, we showed what type of team we can be. We’ve had a great season overall, but it’s disappointing to go out knowing we’re a better team than we showed.”

Some of the credit for that, the Bruins said, has to go to Texas Tech (21-10), which was making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years under legendary coach Bob Knight.

The Red Raiders carved up UCLA’s man-to-man defense with their precise motion offense, shooting 61.5 percent from the field and finding a way to score whenever the Bruins put any pressure on them.

It was 49-44 when Texas Tech’s Ronald Ross exploded around a screen for a wide-open layup. It was 57-53 when Devonne Giles sealed off UCLA’s Ryan Hollins on the low block, absorbed the contact, and converted a 3-point play. And it was 66-59 when Jarrius Jackson curled around a screen and knifed through the lane for a bucket, igniting an 8-0 Texas Tech run that essentially clinched a berth in the second round against third-seeded Gonzaga for the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech’s execution was so flawless that the often feisty Knight remained calm on the bench for most of the game.

“We were able to counter their runs as we went along,” Knight said. “We stayed out of range of being able to be tied in the second half, and that was important for us.”

Said UCLA’s Dijon Thompson, “We couldn’t get over that hump.”

Ross, a former walk-on, led Texas Tech with 28 points on 11-for-20 shooting, and Jackson and Giles scored 19 and 16 respectively. Thompson, who like fellow-senior Brian Morrison was playing in his last collegiate game, countered with 22 points to lead the Bruins.

UCLA coach Ben Howland sniped at the referees throughout the second half, even kicking the scorer’s table after Giles appeared to push off on Thompson to secure an important rebound late in the second half. Yet, by the time he emerged from the locker room to speak with reporters, he had already set aside his frustration.

“I’m really proud of what our guys accomplished this year,” Howland said. “And I’m very proud that Dijon and these three freshmen were here to help lead this program back on the right track.”

Farmar, perhaps, had the most frustrating night of all, scoring three points and going 1-for-9 from the field, but he too put on a brave face after the game.

“We lost to a very good basketball team today,” he said. “It sucks to have to say that, but there were a lot of positives this season and we went through a lot of adversity.

I think we have to look at each other, be proud of what we accomplished, and use it as a learning experience for next year.”

Asked if things will be better then, Farmar nodded.

“You’ll see,” he said.