Texas Tech Turns Up the Heat Late, Storms Past BYU with Relentless Finish in Lubbock
LUBBOCK, Texas - With 9:25 left in the game, BYU’s Richie Saunders had just buried a 3-pointer to cap a 16-2 run, giving the Cougars a 61-52 lead. The Red Raiders looked flat, the crowd was uneasy, and Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland called timeout-more out of urgency than panic. What followed was one of the most dominant stretches of basketball we’ve seen from Tech all season.
Over the final nine minutes, Texas Tech flipped the script in emphatic fashion, outscoring BYU 32-10 and walking off the United Supermarkets Arena floor with an 84-71 win. That’s not just a comeback-that’s a statement.
A Defensive Switch Flips the Game
BYU head coach Kevin Young said afterward that he didn’t notice any major defensive adjustments from Texas Tech. But something clearly changed.
The Cougars, who had been humming offensively, suddenly couldn’t buy a bucket. And Tech?
They locked in.
“In the last 10 minutes of the game, we probably played the best defense we’ve played this year,” McCasland said postgame.
That wasn’t coach-speak-it was reality. The Red Raiders suffocated BYU’s offense, forcing tough shots, contesting everything, and dominating the glass.
The energy was palpable. Every huddle, every possession, every loose ball-Tech played like a team that refused to let another Top 25 opportunity slip away.
“Every huddle we got into we just said, ‘We’re gonna win this game,’” said forward JT Toppin.
And that belief? It showed.
Toppin Sets the Tone
Toppin was the engine behind the Red Raiders’ late-game surge. He finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, but it was his defensive presence that changed the game’s temperature. Whether it was altering shots, rotating with urgency, or anchoring the back line, Toppin brought a level of intensity that set the tone for everyone around him.
“JT has been the voice of this team the last couple of weeks,” McCasland said. “He’s commanding attention with what we need to do defensively and anchoring it with the way he’s blocking shots.”
This is the same team that, two months ago, couldn’t get a stop when it mattered against Illinois. Now, they’re stringing together elite-level defensive possessions and turning them into offensive fireworks on the other end.
A Top 25 Win That Matters
Coming into Saturday, Texas Tech was just 1-4 against Top 25 teams-the worst mark among the Big 12’s top-tier squads. That lone win over Duke felt like a distant memory. Losses to Illinois, Purdue, Arkansas, and Houston had cast a shadow of doubt over just how battle-tested this team really was.
This win over BYU didn’t just boost the résumé-it injected belief. With Houston looming in a rematch next weekend, Tech needed this one. And they earned it.
Let’s be clear: records against ranked teams don’t always predict tournament success. Last year’s Elite Eight run came despite a 1-5 mark against Top 25 opponents. But in the grind of the Big 12, where every night feels like March, wins like this help build the kind of edge you need when the lights get even brighter.
Offense Catches Fire
Once the defense clamped down, the offense followed suit-and it was electric. Tech closed the game by hitting its final seven shots.
BYU, meanwhile, made just one of its last 10 field goal attempts. It was a complete role reversal from the first 30 minutes.
Christian Anderson poured in 22 points and dished out seven assists, while Lejuan Watts added 20 of his own. The trio of Toppin, Anderson, and Watts outdueled BYU’s high-powered scorers, including Robert Wright III, who dropped 28 in a losing effort.
The final stretch wasn’t just about buckets-it was about composure. Tech played with poise, moved the ball with purpose, and capitalized on every opportunity.
“Our ability to get stops and rebound, and when we did, we were able to not have to play against such a set defense,” McCasland said. “But our guys’ awareness down the stretch and our composure level on offense, I thought was what it needed to be.”
Locking Down a Star
One of the more impressive aspects of Tech’s defensive performance? The way they handled BYU freshman phenom AJ Dybansta.
The highly touted rookie came in averaging big numbers but was held to just 12 points. Tech focused on forcing him into mid-range looks and kept him off the free-throw line.
“I think they did a good job of defending AJ without fouling,” said BYU’s Kevin Young. “They did a good job of putting him in positions that weren’t good for him.”
That’s not easy to do against a player with Dybansta’s talent, but Texas Tech made it a priority-and it paid off.
A Glimpse of What’s Possible
As the final buzzer sounded and more than 15,000 fans roared inside the USA, it felt like more than just another conference win. It felt like a turning point.
Texas Tech showed what it can be when defense, leadership, and offensive firepower align. That final nine-minute stretch wasn’t just dominant-it was defining. If the Red Raiders can bottle that up and bring it into March, they’re going to be a problem.
One thing’s for sure: Saturday night in Lubbock was a reminder that this team has another gear-and when they find it, they’re tough to stop.