Texas Tech Falls Just Short Against Kansas Without Christian Anderson: A Gritty Battle in Lubbock
LUBBOCK, Texas - It was a night of unexpected adversity for No. 13 Texas Tech.
Just minutes before tipoff, the Red Raiders learned they’d be without one of their most important pieces - Christian Anderson. And while the late scratch forced a frantic last-minute adjustment, the Red Raiders still pushed No.
11 Kansas to the brink in a 64-61 loss on ESPN’s Big Monday.
Let’s be clear - this wasn’t just a game lost. It was a gut-check moment. And while the scoreboard shows a three-point defeat, the effort, especially under the circumstances, told a deeper story.
“We didn’t even have a plan,” head coach Grant McCasland said postgame. “Fifteen minutes before tip, we’re sitting there trying to figure out how to put together 40 minutes without one of our key guys.”
That raw honesty from McCasland says a lot about the chaos that unfolded before the game. But it also highlights how well his team responded. The Red Raiders didn’t fold - they fought.
LeJuan Watts Leads the Charge
LeJuan Watts stepped up in a big way, delivering a double-double with 19 points and 12 boards. He was relentless on the glass and assertive in the paint, setting the tone for a team that needed someone to take charge with Anderson sidelined.
Jaylen Petty brought the fire too - 11 points and a competitive edge that didn’t waver all night. Donovan Atwell, as steady as ever on the defensive end, chipped in 12 points. JT Toppin, usually the focal point, was held to 10 points but still managed six rebounds in a tough, physical battle.
A Tale of Two Halves - and a Final Run
Texas Tech looked like it might run away with this one midway through the second half. With just over eight minutes to play, they led Kansas 57-47 - their largest lead of the night. The crowd at United Supermarkets Arena was rocking, and momentum was fully on the Red Raiders’ side.
But Kansas, as they’ve done time and again, found a way.
The Jayhawks closed the game on a 14-2 run, with Darryn Peterson hitting two massive threes - one to tie it, and another to take the lead with just 44 seconds left. Texas Tech had a chance to respond.
After forcing a turnover and calling a timeout, the Red Raiders drew a foul, setting up a pair of crucial possessions. But back-to-back missed threes sealed the deal.
A Loss, But Not Without Lessons
This wasn’t just a tough loss - it was the second in a row for Tech, following Saturday’s 88-80 defeat at UCF. Still, McCasland isn’t dwelling on the negatives.
“The fight that we showed, considering the circumstance - I just love our guys,” he said. “But it doesn’t count for anything other than a loss. We don’t have time to think about anything other than beating West Virginia on Sunday.”
And that’s life in the Big 12. There’s no time to sulk.
No time to second-guess. It’s about resilience, and this team showed plenty of it Monday night.
What’s Next
Texas Tech hits the road next, heading to Morgantown for a Sunday showdown with West Virginia. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m.
CT. With Anderson’s status still uncertain, the Red Raiders will once again need to lean on their depth, toughness, and that next-man-up mentality that nearly carried them past a top-15 opponent.
One thing’s for sure - if they bring the same energy they showed against Kansas, they’ll be in every fight the rest of the way.