LUBBOCK, TX — The Texas Tech Red Raiders host the Arizona Wildcats for a Big 12 Conference matchup this weekend in Lubbock. The matchup, set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, marks the first meeting between the programs as conference foes since the Wildcats joined the Big 12 this season.
The two teams were Border Conference rivals from 1932 to 1956 and have played 52 times in total. The Red Raiders will travel to Arizona for the second regular-season meeting on Feb. 8.
Game Information
- Matchup: Arizona (11-5, 5-0) at Texas Tech (12-4, 3-2)
- Location: Lubbock, Texas
- Venue: United Supermarkets Arena
- Tip-off: 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025
- TV: ESPN2
- Announcers: Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Sean Farnham (analyst)
- Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network – Geoff Haxton (play-by-play), Chris Level (analyst)
Texas Tech (12-4, 3-2 Big 12) enters the contest ranked No. 17 in the KenPom ratings and No. 21 in the NCAA NET after a 61-57 road win over Kansas State on Tuesday. Tech, however, has struggled at home in conference play, going 0-2 with losses to UCF and No. 2 Iowa State.
Darrion Williams led Texas Tech with 16 points at Kansas State, while Elijah Hawkins contributed 14 points and nine assists. Federiko Federiko grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Hawkins' go-ahead basket with 5:28 remaining gave Tech a 59-57 lead, and Williams sealed the win with a shot in the final seconds. The Red Raiders dominated the rebounding battle 35-24 and outscored Kansas State 40-18 in the paint.
Arizona (11-5, 5-0 Big 12) is riding a seven-game winning streak after defeating No. 25 Baylor, 81-70, on Tuesday in Tucson. The Wildcats, ranked No. 15 in KenPom and No. 13 in the NCAA NET, built a commanding 42-19 halftime lead and held on to remain unbeaten in conference play.
Arizona leads the Big 12 in rebounding (40.8 per game) and is second in scoring (84.2 ppg). Caleb Love paces the Wildcats with 15.3 points per game, ranking 10th in the conference. Henri Veesaar, who scored a team-high 19 points against Baylor, is averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Texas Tech’s McCasland praised Veesaar’s defensive impact and growing confidence.
The Red Raiders hold a 28-24 all-time advantage in the series, which dates back to 1934. However, Arizona has won the last seven meetings, including the most recent clash in 2013, a 79-58 victory. The Wildcats also won the last game in Lubbock, 85-57, in 2012. The programs were conference rivals in the Border Conference before Tech moved to the Southwest Conference in 1957. Arizona was a founding member of the Border Conference in 1931 before departing for the Western Athletic Conference in 1962. The Wildcats spent 45 seasons in the Pac-12 before joining the Big 12.
Tech leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage (50.5%) and effective field goal percentage (58.2%) while ranking second in free-throw shooting (77.2%). Nationally, the Red Raiders are 10th in effective field goal percentage, eighth in field goal percentage and 32nd in free throws. Tech also ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring (83.9 ppg) and second in three-point shooting (39.7%). The Red Raiders have hit at least 10 three-pointers in nine of their 16 games this season.
Three Texas Tech players are averaging double figures, with Toppin and Williams both scoring 16.3 points per game. McMillian adds 14.9 ppg, while Kevin Overton chips in 9.6. Hawkins, who has averaged 13.1 points over the past five games, leads the Big 12 in assists (6.1 per game) and ranks third in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.19). Williams is fifth in the conference in both assists (4.9) and scoring. Toppin ranks third in the Big 12 with 8.7 rebounds per game. McMillian is second nationally in three-point shooting percentage (48.1%) and third in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (56.8%).
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