LUBBOCK, TX — Behind a season-high 22 points from Chance McMillian and another 20-point effort from Darrion Williams, Texas Tech defeated previously unbeaten DePaul 76-62 on Wednesday night at United Supermarkets Arena. The victory extended Tech’s non-conference home winning streak to 36 games and handed the Blue Demons (7-1) their first loss of the season.
The Red Raiders (7-1) had to overcome missing their leading scorer and rebounder, JT Toppin, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury on Wednesday night. McMillian stepped up in his absence, shooting 8-for-14 from the field, and helped lead the Red Raiders to victory.
Texas Tech opened the game with a 12-0 run but led by just one point, 38-37, at halftime. DePaul’s hot 3-point shooting, nine in the first half, kept the Blue Demons competitive despite their slow start. In the second half, however, Tech’s defense clamped down, limiting DePaul to just two 3-pointers and 35.7% shooting from the field.
Texas Tech's Chance McMillan in the win over DePaul
(Credit: x.com/texastechMBB)
In the second half, Tech went on a 21-5 run in the first 9 minutes to pull away from the Blue Demons. Tech's defense stood out, as the Red Raiders scored the majority of their points during that run off of turnovers from DePaul. The Blue Demons pulled within six points on two separate occasions, but key baskets from McMillan and Williams allowed the Red Raiders to solidify the win.
McMillian led the way offensively, while Williams notched his third straight 20-point game, adding six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Kevin Overton and Christian Anderson chipped in nine points each off the bench, while Federiko Federiko, starting in place of Toppin, contributed eight points and five rebounds. Elijah Hawkins led the team with five assists and four steals.
Stats
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Texas Tech:
- Shot 50.0% from the field (29-for-58)
- Went 5-for-17 from 3-point range
- Dominated the paint with a 36-24 scoring advantage
- Recorded 11 steals while committing just six turnovers
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DePaul:
- Shot 42.6% overall but only 2-for-14 on 3-pointers in the second half
- Jacob Meyer led with 14 points, including four 3-pointers
Red Raiders
- Chance McMillian: Season-high 22 points, 8-for-14 FG
- Darrion Williams: 20 points, third consecutive game with 20+
- Federiko Federiko: Solid defensive presence with eight points and five rebounds
Upcoming Matchups
Texas Tech will next face No. 22 Texas A&M in a rivalry renewal at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The Aggies (7-2) enter the matchup on a three-game winning streak, including a recent 57-44 win over Wake Forest. This marks the first meeting between the two programs since 2012.
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