SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Here’s a safe bet for Thursday’s Sweet 16 game between Texas Tech and Duke: Red Raiders senior Kevin Obanor will record a double-double.

Why so much certainty? Because that’s all Obanor — a player Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde referred to as college basketball’s Mr. March — has done in his NCAA Tournament career.

Obanor, a transfer from Oral Roberts, had a team-high 15 points and 15 rebounds in Texas Tech’s 59-53 win over Notre Dame. It was his fifth double-double in five career NCAA Tournament games, a feat that’s only been accomplished three other times in the last 50 years, according to CBS. Being in the company of names like Shaq, Bird and Xavier’s Derek Strong — a player with a 10-year NBA career — isn’t too shabby.

After the win over Notre Dame, Obanor was asked about his March Madness double-double streak, and what allows him to rise to the occasion. Teammate Kevin McCullar Jr., sitting next to Obanor, intervened.

“He’s a dog,” McCullar said adamantly.

Obanor chuckled.

“I give praise to the Lord,” the 6-8 Obanor then responded. “When big moments come, I don’t want to let my teammates down.”

And when it matters most, he hasn’t for two years now.

The NCAA Tournament has almost been like a switch flipped for Obanor, too, in terms of producing double-doubles. In the last two years, he didn’t record a double-double in the conference tournament for either Oral Roberts or Texas Tech.

And there hasn’t been an NCAA Tournament game where he hasn’t accomplished that feat.

Obanor started the streak with 30 points and 11 rebounds, leading 15-seed Oral Roberts to an upset over No. 2 Ohio State last season. He followed it up with 28 points and 11 rebounds in another upset win over Florida.

In five NCAA Tournament games, Obanor is averaging 19 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

“How about that?” Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams said when asked about Obanor’s double-double streak, prior to Obanor adding a fifth game to it. “He’s a great competitor. He wants to keep this team alive and knows how important it is to do whatever he can to do that.”

Obanor said as much in an interview with The Dallas Morning News on Thursday.

“People are fighting for their lives,” Obanor said of the feeling of March Madness. “It’s truly a hungry game out here, and it’s all or nothing. This is where people make plays and just really have that mind-set to come out and compete, because once it’s done, it’s done.”

There was a point late in Texas Tech’s game against Notre Dame when it looked like the end was possible. Notre Dame led the Red Raiders 52-49 with just over two minutes left. From that point, the Red Raiders closed with a 10-1 run.

Obanor had three rebounds and two clutch free throws during that stretch.

“I’m willing to do whatever. As long as we win we’re all happy,” Obanor said after the game. “I’m just grateful to advance and play in the Sweet 16.”

It’s the second time in two years Obanor has advanced to this point. Last year, he and Oral Roberts lost by two to Arkansas. On Thursday, he and the Red Raiders will get a chance at second-seeded Duke.

“The last Sweet 16, we all have different memories. I’m grateful to be part of each one of them,” Obanor said. “Last year, being a 15 seed, and this year I’m making to it the Sweet 16. There’s always a new story in play.”

But for Obanor, each story has featured the same, double-double result.

Twitter: @JoeJHoyt