JT Toppin ignited Texas Tech's upset over No. 6 Houston with a dominant 31-point, 12-rebound performance, showcasing offensive firepower and defensive grit.
Texas Tech made a loud statement Saturday night in Lubbock, knocking off No. 6 Houston 90-86 in a game that felt every bit like March in January.
Inside a rocking United Supermarkets Arena, the Red Raiders combined star power, timely shooting, and defensive grit to end the Cougars’ 11-game winning streak and strengthen their hold near the top of the Big 12 race.
The night belonged to JT Toppin, who delivered one of the most complete performances of the season. The junior forward poured in 31 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, recording the 44th double-double of his career.
His ability to score through contact, control the glass, and anchor Tech defensively was the constant Houston couldn’t solve, even as the game swung back and forth for 40 intense minutes.
Texas Tech set the tone early with one of its best offensive halves of the season.
The Red Raiders knocked down 10 three-pointers before halftime and scored 55 points against a Houston defense that entered the game ranked among the nation’s best.
That early surge proved critical, as scoring became much tougher after the break.
When Tech needed shots late, Donovan Atwell delivered. After a quiet second half from deep, Atwell buried back-to-back 3-pointers in the final six minutes, the second coming just 34 seconds after the first. Those shots flipped the momentum for good and gave the Red Raiders the breathing room they needed to close it out.
Balance was another key for Texas Tech. Atwell and Jaylen Petty each finished with 18 points, while Christian Anderson chipped in 12 points and nine assists, keeping the offense organized during Houston’s late pushes.
Tech finished the night 11-0 at home this season and extended its overall winning streak to five games.
Houston, led by a sensational 42-point outing from freshman Kingston Flemings, showed why it entered the game as a national title contender.
But Texas Tech’s physicality and execution in crunch time proved decisive, once again making the Red Raiders a thorn in the Cougars’ side.
The win reinforces Texas Tech’s status as a legitimate Big 12 contender and sends a clear message to the rest of the conference: the Red Raiders are built to win big games, especially at home, and they’re only getting tougher as the season rolls on.