LUBBOCK, TX — The Texas Tech Red Raiders' defense completely shut down the Arizona Wildcats in the final five minutes of Saturday's Big 12 matchup to claim the Red Raiders' first Big 12 win at home this season, 70-54.
After a back-and-forth contest that saw Texas Tech lead for all but 3:01 of the matchup, the Red Raiders' defense came through when Tech needed it most to shut down any comeback attempt the Wildcats could muster.
JT Toppin led all scorers on the day with 20 points. He added 16 rebounds and three blocks on a day that saw him claim a dominating double-double. The Red Raiders needed Toppin inside on Saturday. The usually electric three-point shooting Red Raiders finished with only 26% shooting from beyond the arc.
Texas Tech took a 7-point, 33-26, lead into the break and thought to hold on before anything else. However, the final five minutes turned in the Red Raiders' favor. Head Coach Grant McCasland's defense forced the Wildcats to finish 1-14 in the final five minutes to close out the contest.
Tech dominated the boards 50-34, including 16 offensive rebounds. Those extra rebounds turned into 15-second chance points that helped close the game on Saturday.
The Red Raiders improved to 13-4 overall (4-2 Big 12) and handed Arizona (11-6, 5-1 Big 12) its first conference loss to the Big 12 newcomer Wildcats this season. Texas Tech will look to extend this current win-streak to three games on Tuesday, Jan. 21, when the Red Raiders travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats.
Tip-off in that matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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