Texas Tech Upsets #1 Arizona
No. 16 Texas Tech stunned top-ranked Arizona 78-75 in overtime, with JT Toppin scoring 31 points including eight crucial overtime points. The upset hands Arizona their second consecutive defeat and shakes up the national rankings heading into March.
- This marks Texas Tech's third victory over a top-ranked team in the program's history. The win moves their overall record against No. 1 teams to 3-8. - JT Toppin's 31-point, 13-rebound performance made him 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 achieve at least 30 points and 10 rebounds with zero turnovers against a No. 1 team. - The Red Raiders overcame a seven-point deficit with 3:29 left in regulation, mounting a 9-0 run that was capped by a Donovan Atwell 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to take the lead. - Arizona's star freshman, Koa Peat, was sidelined for the second half with a lower-body injury. The Wildcats, who entered the game averaging 4.7 blocks per contest, did not record a single block against Texas Tech. - Key support for Texas Tech came from Christian Anderson, who scored 19 points with six 3-pointers, and Donovan Atwell, who added 11 points. - Following the loss, Arizona (23-2) fell from No. 1 to No. 4 in the Associated Press poll. - The victory improved Texas Tech's record to 19-6 and moved them into a three-way tie for third place in the competitive Big 12 conference standings. - This is Texas Tech's third win over a team ranked in the top 10 this season, having previously defeated Duke and Houston.
