No. 22 Texas Tech Faces No. 6 Houston in Big 12 showdown

LUBBOCK, TX — No. 22 Texas Tech will put its five-game winning streak and unbeaten road record on the line Saturday when it travels to face No. 6 Houston at the Fertitta Center. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m., with the game airing on ESPN2 and the Texas Tech Sports Network.

Game Information
Matchup: No. 22 Texas Tech (16-4, 7-2) at No. 6 Houston (17-3, 9-0)
Location: Fertitta Center, Houston, Texas
Tipoff: 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025
TV: ESPN2 (Rich Hollenberg, King McClure)
Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network (Geoff Haxton, Chris Level)

The Red Raiders (16-4, 7-2 Big 12) enter the matchup following a 71-57 win over TCU, marking their best start to conference play since 2005. A win over Houston would set a new program record for the best 10-game start to a Big 12 season and give Texas Tech its first ranked victory of the year after previous losses to Texas A&M and Iowa State.

Houston (17-3, 9-0) is the lone remaining unbeaten team in Big 12 play and carries an 11-game winning streak into the contest. The Cougars, who are 11-0 at home, most recently defeated West Virginia 63-49 on Wednesday.

The Red Raiders have been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the Big 12, ranking second in the conference in field goal percentage (49.0%), free throw percentage (76.6%) and 3-point shooting (38.0%). They also hold a 1.59 assist-to-turnover ratio, led by Elijah Hawkins, who had 13 points and five assists against TCU.

JT Toppin notched his seventh double-double of the season in the win over the Horned Frogs, posting 16 points and 14 rebounds. Chance McMillian also added 16 points. Texas Tech played without Darrion Williams, who is averaging 14.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Williams is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

The Red Raiders, who average 81.4 points per game, will be tested by a Houston defense that leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 55.3 points per game. The Cougars have held opponents under 60 points in four of their last five games.

The Cougars, who last lost on Nov. 30 against San Diego State, earned a dramatic double-overtime win at Kansas last Saturday, with former Red Raider Mylik Wilson hitting a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.

L.J. Cryer leads Houston in scoring at 13.7 points per game and has hit 54 3-pointers this season. Emanuel Sharp is averaging 12.9 points, while J’Wan Roberts contributes 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

Houston owns an 18-5 all-time record against Texas Tech in games played on its campus. The Cougars swept last season’s meetings, including a 77-54 regular-season win and an 82-59 victory in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals. The teams will meet again on Feb. 24 in Lubbock.