No. 4 Houston Holds Off No. 10 Texas Tech in Lubbock

LUBBOCK, TX — No. 4 Houston defeated No. 10 Texas Tech 69-61 on Monday night at United Supermarkets Arena, evening the season series after the Red Raiders’ 82-81 overtime win on February 1.

Texas Tech (21-7, 12-5 Big 12) played without starters Chance McMillian and Darrion Williams due to lower-body injuries but remained within three points in the final minute. Elijah Hawkins’ free throws cut the deficit to 62-59 before Houston’s Milos Uzan responded with a 3-pointer and two free throws to secure the Cougars’ (24-4, 16-1 Big 12) victory.

“We didn’t execute everything we wanted to do, but man, did they fight and compete,” Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland said. “The result wasn’t right, but the competitiveness was. I’m hopeful we get another opportunity to play them.”

JT Toppin recorded his 12th double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Hawkins added 14 points, five assists and just one turnover, while Kerwin Walton scored 12 points on four 3-pointers. Christian Anderson contributed 10 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Federiko Federiko had nine rebounds and four points, and Kevin Overton added seven points and four rebounds.

“There is a collective grit to this group now,” McCasland said. “They’re starting to sense what you have to do as a team.”

Texas Tech shot 29.8% (17-for-57) from the field and 20.0% (6-for-30) from 3-point range but converted 80.8% (21-for-26) of its free throws. The Red Raiders outrebounded Houston 40-33, including a 17-7 edge on offensive boards. The Cougars shot 44.9% (22-for-49) from the field, 50.0% (6-for-12) from 3-point range, and 82.6% (19-for-23) from the free-throw line.

Uzan led Houston with 22 points, shooting 8-for-15 from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. J’Wan Roberts added 16 points and seven rebounds, going 10-for-12 from the free-throw line.

The Cougars led 33-30 at halftime after Texas Tech struggled from deep, shooting just 3-for-15 from 3-point range in the first half. Hawkins led the Red Raiders with nine first-half points, while Toppin had eight points and seven rebounds.

Texas Tech will next travel to face Kansas at 1 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse before returning home for its regular-season finale against Colorado on March 5.