In an electrifying match that showcased the grit and determination of college basketball, No. 12 Texas Tech emerged victorious against the formidable No. 6 Houston, ending the Cougars' impressive win streak with a final score of 90-86. Star player JT Toppin delivered a standout performance, achieving a double-double with 31 points and 12 rebounds, reinforcing Texas Tech's reputation for resilience on the court.
This thrilling encounter took place in Lubbock, Texas, where Texas Tech not only demonstrated their strength in rebounding but also effectively countered a remarkable 42-point game by freshman Kingston Flemings from Houston. Houston's head coach, Kelvin Sampson, acknowledged the Red Raiders’ prowess, stating, "They did an awesome, awesome job on the offensive boards. They did to us what we've made a living doing to other people."
Texas Tech, now boasting a record of 16 wins and 4 losses with a 6-1 standing in the Big 12, dominated the rebounding battle with an impressive 44-28 margin. Out of these, 21 were offensive rebounds, which translated into 22 second-chance points—crucial in such a tight contest. Coach Grant McCasland described the intensity of the game, saying, "There were some haymakers being thrown in that game. I mean, I'm talking like every time a shot goes up, it was just literal fighting. I mean, it's not an easy way to play."
This victory marks Texas Tech's fifth consecutive win following a close 69-65 loss to Houston earlier this month. Remarkably, they have managed to defeat higher-ranked opponents on back-to-back Saturdays, a feat that showcases their current momentum. Houston, prior to this defeat, had been riding high with an 11-game win streak and had set a Big 12 record with 16 straight wins on the road over the past two years.
In their previous matchup, Texas Tech had also taken down then No. 11 BYU, who entered the game with a 13-game winning streak, only to leave with an 84-71 loss. In addition to their offensive success, Texas Tech also managed to outpace Houston's defense, which was ranked second nationally for allowing just 60.1 points per game. The Red Raiders led at halftime 55-49, marking the highest number of points the Cougars have allowed in a half during Coach Sampson's tenure, spanning over 12 seasons. This statistic is particularly notable as it only represents the third instance of a team scoring 90 points against Houston in regulation time, as recorded by ESPN Research.
Flemings' impressive 42 points tied him for the highest total ever scored by a Houston player against a ranked opponent. His performance also marked a significant milestone, being the first player under Sampson to reach the 40-point mark since Brian Quinnett achieved 44 points for Washington State in 1989. Coach Sampson praised his freshman’s efforts, saying, "Kingston put us on his back and put us in position to win the game. We just didn't do a very good job on the boards."
The match was tight, featuring eight lead changes and eight ties, with Houston holding the advantage for 18 minutes. However, Texas Tech took control late in the game when Donovan Atwell hit a crucial go-ahead three-pointer, followed by another just 34 seconds later, both assisted by the towering Toppin.
With this victory, Texas Tech boasts an unblemished home record of 11-0 this season and has triumphed in nine of their last ten games. Their only recent setback was against Houston. Last season, Texas Tech was the sole Big 12 team to defeat the Cougars, who went on to become conference champions and national runners-up.
Toppin’s career total of 44 double-doubles ranks as the second-most among active players, trailing only Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, who has 48. Since transferring from New Mexico after his freshman year, Toppin has achieved 32 double-doubles in just 52 games with Texas Tech. Sharing his philosophy, Toppin stated, "Just do what I do best, trying to play for my team. We just kept staying together. I love these guys."
And as thrilling as this game was, it raises an interesting question: can Texas Tech maintain this level of performance against even tougher opponents? What are your thoughts on their chances moving forward? Share your opinions in the comments!
