Tech's red-hot 3-point barrage clashes with No. 8 Houston. Can their explosive offense conquer a top-ranked road test and secure a statement win?
Texas Tech's next Big 12 test isn't subtle.
No. 15 Tech heads to the Fertitta Center to face No. 8 Houston at 8 p.m. CT Tuesday in the first of two matchups this month, and the Red Raiders are rolling in with a flamethrower offense and a fresh reminder that they can hang with the nation’s best.
The Red Raiders (11-3, 1-0 Big 12) opened conference play by blasting Oklahoma State 102-80 on Saturday in Lubbock, tying a program/season record with 17 made 3-pointers and posting their highest point total of the season.
Houston (13-1, 1-0 Big 12) began league play with a 67-60 road win at Cincinnati and has won seven straight since a November loss to Tennessee in Las Vegas.
Last season, Tech and Houston split, with the Red Raiders grabbing an 82-81 overtime win in Houston on Feb. 1 before the Cougars returned the favor with a 69-61 win in Lubbock on Feb. 24.
They'll meet again in Lubbock on Saturday, Jan. 24, but first comes the hard part ... winning in Houston.
If you're looking for the identity of this Tech team, start beyond the arc. The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 at 11.1 made 3s per game and have hit 10+ in 10 games this season.
They're shooting 38.1 percent from deep (155-for-407), top-four in the conference and top-25 nationally, and the last five games have been a full-on barrage at 41.0 percent from three and 91.6 points per game. Against Oklahoma State, Tech went 17-for-37 from 3-point range with six different players hitting at least one.
The engine is the JT Toppin-Christian Anderson duo.
They're the only teammates in the country both averaging 20-plus points per game, with Toppin at 21.2 and Anderson at 20.5. Toppin just posted 23 points and 14 boards for his eighth double-double of the year, while Anderson dropped 19 points and a career-high 13 assists.
Anderson also leads the Big 12 at 7.5 assists per game and is averaging 23.0 points and 8.0 assists over the past five games.
Tech's depth has been loud, too.
All five starters scored in double figures vs. OSU, including LeJuan Watts (19 points, 9 rebounds), Donovan Atwell (15 points, five threes), and Jaylen Petty (12 points, four threes). With Watts averaging 14.1 and Atwell at 11.3, Tech now has four double-figure scorers.
This is a true road test. Tech is 0-1 in true road games and 1-1 vs. AP Top-10 teams, but Houston is built to punish sloppy possessions. If Tech's 3s travel, the Red Raiders can turn this into a fistfight.
How To Watch Texas Tech vs. Houston
Tip: 8 p.m. CT, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 (Fertitta Center — Houston)
TV: FS1 (Jason Benetti, Bill Raftery)
Radio: Westwood One (Ryan Radtke, PJ Carlesimo)
Texas Tech Sports Network: Geoff Haxton, Chris Level