JT Toppin ignited a furious comeback, leading Texas Tech's stunning 30-6 run to shatter BYU's streak and secure a dominant victory.
For about 30 minutes, it looked like Texas Tech might be in real trouble. For the final 10, it looked like the Red Raiders had flipped a switch and yanked the plug.
JT Toppin delivered a monster night with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and a whole lot of “get on my back” energy, as No. 15 Texas Tech stormed back to beat No. 11 BYU 84-71 on Saturday night at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, ending the Cougars’ 13-game winning streak in emphatic fashion.
BYU appeared to be cruising after Robert Wright III capped a 16-2 run with eight straight points to give the Cougars a 61-52 lead with 9:26 left. At that moment, United Supermarkets Arena felt uneasy. Then Tech decided it had waited long enough.
What followed was a stunning 30-6 Red Raider avalanche.
Jaylen Petty jump-started the comeback with three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer - always a crowd favorite.
Toppin followed with a tough 3-point play to tie it at 63. After BYU briefly regained the lead, Toppin calmly stepped into a three from the top of the key and flipped the script for good.
From there, it was a masterclass in closing.
LeJuan Watts drilled a three, picked off a pass on the next possession, and set up Christian Anderson for another long bomb. Suddenly, Tech was up 72-65 and BYU looked shell-shocked.
Anderson finished with 22 points, Watts added 20, and the Red Raiders (14-4, 4-1 Big 12) turned a tense game into a statement win. The victory marked Tech’s fifth straight win over BYU after dropping the first three meetings between the programs.
BYU (16-2, 4-1) simply ran out of answers. Wright poured in 28 points, but freshman star AJ Dybantsa was bottled up after halftime, scoring just two points on 1-of-6 shooting in the second half. Richie Saunders chipped in 18, but the Cougars’ offense ground to a halt once Tech turned up the pressure.
Texas Tech matched effort with execution, defense with discipline, and toughness with timing. When the moment demanded poise, the Red Raiders delivered.
Up next, Tech heads to Baylor on Tuesday night, armed with momentum and belief.
Sometimes, runs define games. This one defined Texas Tech.