LUBBOCK, Texas — Every four years for the past 12, Texas had left Lubbock a loser.

It looked like that trend might continue last night when Texas Tech jumped to a three-touchdown lead in the first half.

But the No. 5 Longhorns overcame four turnovers and erased the big deficit to beat the Red Raiders, 35-31.

"This team doesn't know how to quit," said Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who threw for 256 yards and four touchdowns. "We just kept hanging in there. We are determined and we fight to the end."

The Longhorns (8-1, 5-0 Big 12) won their 20th straight conference game and 17th consecutive road game.

Texas didn't get its first lead until early in the fourth quarter when McCoy threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Quan Cosby to make it 35-31.

Tech (5-4, 2-3) had chances in the final 6:14. Twice it failed on fourth downs inside Texas 35. Both plays — a completion to Joel Filani and a quarterback sneak by Graham Harrell — came up just short and were reviewed by replay, but the officials' spots were upheld.

The second opportunity came after Jamaal Charles fumbled for a second time, this one coming at his own 24, and Tech's Jake Ratliff recovered. But Tech failed to take advantage.

Harrell completed 42 of 62 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns. He threw one interception, his first since throwing five in games against Missouri and Colorado. The most passing yards Texas has ever given up was 533 yards against Houston in 1992.

Texas coach Mack Brown said he was proud of his team's confidence and perseverance

"That's the thing that separates teams," he said. "We played hard; we didn't play that well. And Texas Tech played as well as I've ever seen them play. Harrell was as hot as I've ever seen."

Texas put more pressure on Harrell in the second half, enabling the Longhorns to hold the Red Raiders scoreless. Harrell had been nearly perfect in the first half. He got the Red Raiders inside the Texas' 20 only twice in the second half.

"Every ball (Harrell) threw seemed to be on the money," said defensive back Aaron Ross, who broke up three passes. "Everything he did was right. The right throw, the right receiver, the right route."

McCoy, who completed 21 of 31 and threw one interception, has thrown 24 touchdown passes this season, leaving him two shy of the school season record shared by Chris Simms and Vince Young.