
Houston – Texas Tech
The #4 Houston Cougars welcomed the #22 Texas Tech Red Raiders to the Fertitta Center in Houston Saturday night where Houston was retiring the number 24 in honor of University of Houston legend and NBA Champion Don Chaney. Texas Tech came into this contest on a five game win streak and 7 – 2 in conference play. As a later game in a day where the other two ranked teams in the Big 12, Kansas and Iowa State, took losses, The Red Raiders were presented with a big opportunity to advance their case for a higher seed in the NCAA tournament.
The Cougars come into this game as one of the nations best teams on a 13 game win streak and undefeated in conference play. This team brings intense pressure to the defense including to the glass where they routinely outbound their opponents by six a game with a front court that is experienced and tough. They also have among the best back courts in the country with guards that can create their own shots and can score at all three levels. Against a well coached Texas Tech team that is driven to knock them off and take control of the Big 12, Houston needed to execute their gameplay to continue their nation leading 33 game home win streak at home.
First Half
Both these teams that excel on the defensive side of the ball started the game hot on offense but a cross court pass would change the entire outlook of this contest. Not even four minutes into the game, Texas Tech’s leading scorer, 6’9″ sophomore JT Toppin looked to pass out of a Houston double team when in the motion of passing the ball, he connected with an obviously inadvertent groin shot to Houston big man Joseph Tuggler. After review, the referees upgraded it to a flagrant 2 meaning an automatic ejection of Toppin at nearly the beginning of this heated contest.

After such an egregious call, Tech coach Grant McCasland rightfully lost his cool telling the referees “he was passing the ball”! the referees assigned him two quick technical fouls; so the Red Raiders had lost not just one of their best players, but also their head coach in this road contest. By the time this event had passed, Houston had taken a 13-8 lead with just under 16 minutes left.
Tech answered with a flurry of offense against the tough defense of Houston, led by senior guard Chance McMillian and Kerwin Walton who put Texas Tech on top 21-18 with less than 12 minutes left in the first half. This effort was assisted by Elijah Hawkins who put in two three pointers in 45 seconds and later a free throw to put Tech up 30-27. Houston kept the game close with a balanced attack led by LJ Cryer who kept the Cougars within striking distance with his dribble drive getting to his midrange shot and distributing to his teammates. Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson hit a three pointer with 13 seconds left to take the Raiders into halftime up 41-37.
Second Half
The second half of this game picked up with the same intense energy with both teams getting a balanced contribution on offense and a team effort to force their opponent to take tough shots. Tech was assisted by Kerwin Walton getting the third of his second half triples to fall to keep Tech ahead of Houston 54-48 with just over 13 and a half minutes left in regulation. Houstons bigs kept attacking the offensive boards with bigs Ja’vier Francis and Joseph Tugler getting high percentage shots that cancelled out the hot shooting of Tech.

LJ Cryer kept the Cougars fighting back and with a kick out to Milos Uzan who dropped in a three, Houston regained the lead 60-57 with eight and a half minutes left. Houston would maintain this lead until with thirty seconds left, Hawkins would kick it out to Darrion Williams who buried a triple with 30 seconds left to tie the game up at 72. Houston would get the ball to their skilled big man J’Wan Roberts who would drive to the basket and get blocked by Federico Federiko to send the game into overtime.
Overtime
Texas Tech got off to a quick start in overtime when McMillian hit a jumper on the first possession, although this was matched by a layup by Roberts for Houston. Tech would push the lead to four at 78-74 on another Hawkins three pointer when it was again whittled down to just one point on an Uzan and one. McMillian would get to the basket for a layup to go up 80-78 which was tied back up when Roberts went two for two from the free-throw line.

In a bid to get a go ahead field goal, Cryer dropped it off to Roberts who drove to the bucket and was fouled on the shot attempt with 24 seconds left. He would go one for two putting Houston up 81-80. Texas Tech would execute a play to get McMillian a shot to win the game. McMillian got a shot up from the left key and was fouled on the shot. At the line, he hit both free throws to give him the last of his game high 23 points and put Texas Tech up 82-81 with 14 seconds left to play.
Houston would get a crack at winning this game yet again where the focus was on Cryer who had a team high 22 points and Roberts who had driven this Cougar offense in the second half and overtime. Off of a high screen and roll, Cryer would drop it off again to Roberts just above the free-throw line. Roberts tried to drive right against Eemeli Yalaho and lost his balance trying to get to his right shoulder, resulting in a travel, giving Tech the ball with 1.5 seconds left to play. Texas Tech would throw the ball down court where it was intercepted by Roberts who was able to get off a heave from beyond half court that went wide right, sealing the game 82-81 for Texas Tech.
Looking Forward
Houston will get a chance to learn from this game as they will face an Oklahoma State game near the bottom of the Big 12 barrel in Houston. Houston had some issues with defense and rebounding against Tech that they will need to focus on improving back to their usual level. they take on the Cowboys at 7:00 p.m. CST on February 4th on ESPN+.
Texas Tech will need to absorb the confidence gained from this big win as they will receive a challenge from a dangerous Baylor Bears squad that closed out #12 Kansas after being down 19 points at half. The Raiders do have a great home court advantage in Lubbock and they will need to let go of the euphoria that comes from winning a game in such an unlikely fashion. The Raiders will take on the Bears at 8:00p.m. on February 4th on ESPN2.
Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt has said that the university will formally contest the foul upgrade ejection of Toppin in an attempt to keep these refs from participating in any further Red Raider Contests.
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