In a thrilling matchup in Tempe, the No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders saw their three-game winning streak come to an end, falling 72-67 to an unranked Arizona State team.
Just days after their impressive overtime victory over then-No. 1 Arizona, the Red Raiders faced a tough battle on the road.
The game took a significant turn when standout forward JT Toppin exited with a right leg injury with six minutes left on the clock. Before leaving, Toppin was a force on the court, racking up 20 points and eight rebounds, and was well on his way to another double-double.
Arizona State held a commanding 69-59 lead with just over two minutes remaining. However, Texas Tech mounted a spirited 8-0 run, narrowing the gap in the final moments. Yet, the Sun Devils' Anthony Johnson and Maurice Odom sealed the victory with three crucial free throws.
Fouls were a persistent issue for the Red Raiders, impacting their rhythm and rotation. Point guard Christian Anderson, who contributed 18 points and nailed four of seven three-pointers, fouled out with mere seconds left. Jaylen Petty faced foul trouble with four, while Donovan Atwell and Luke Bamgboye each tallied three.
Despite the loss, Atwell showcased his sharpshooting skills, hitting four of eight from beyond the arc, accounting for all 12 of his points and reinforcing his reputation as one of the conference's top three-point threats.
Looking ahead, the Red Raiders will host Kansas State, fresh off a decisive 90-74 victory over Baylor. This marks Kansas State's first win since parting ways with head coach Jerome Tang. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. at the United Supermarkets Arena.