Texas Tech Upsets #1 Arizona
No. 16 Texas Tech pulled off a major upset, defeating No. 1 Arizona 78-75 in overtime behind JT Toppin's 31 points, including eight in the extra period. The loss marks Arizona's second straight defeat, significantly shaking up the national rankings and March Madness tournament projections.
- This was a historic victory for the Red Raiders, marking only the third time in the program's history they have defeated a team ranked No. 1 in the nation. - Arizona's loss was not an isolated incident; it was their second consecutive defeat after starting the season with a perfect 23-0 record. Their previous loss was to No. 9 Kansas just five days earlier. - The Wildcats were shorthanded for the entire second half and overtime after star freshman Koa Peat suffered a lower-body injury. The team was also missing backup guard Dwayne Aristode due to illness. - JT Toppin's 31-point, 13-rebound performance was a historic one; he is only the second player in Big 12 history to record a 30-point double-double against an AP No. 1 ranked team. He also became the first player in over 20 seasons to have at least 30 points and 10 rebounds with zero turnovers against a No. 1 team. - Texas Tech staged a late comeback to force overtime. They went on a 9-0 run after being down 64-57 with just over three minutes left in regulation, taking the lead on a Donovan Atwell 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining. - The win significantly boosts Texas Tech's NCAA tournament resume, adding to an impressive season that already included victories over other top teams like Duke and Houston. - Following the back-to-back losses, Arizona dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 in the Associated Press poll.
