LeJuan Watts Erupts for 36 as No. 19 Texas Tech Outguns Northern Colorado in Lubbock Shootout
There are hot hands, and then there’s what LeJuan Watts did Tuesday night in Lubbock.
The sophomore forward turned in a career night, pouring in 36 points on a blistering 12-of-13 shooting performance to lead No. 19 Texas Tech past a game Northern Colorado squad, 101-90, at United Supermarkets Arena.
The win marks the Red Raiders’ 45th straight non-conference home victory and sets the stage for a marquee showdown against No. 3 Duke this weekend at Madison Square Garden.
Watts was surgical from the field, matching both a Texas Tech and Big 12 record by starting 12-for-12 before finally missing a three-pointer with just over a minute left in regulation. He finished 3-for-4 from deep, added six rebounds, four assists, and played with the kind of poise and confidence that makes you think this might just be the beginning of something special.
And he wasn’t doing it alone.
Freshman big man JT Toppin was once again a force on both ends, dropping 23 points while tying his career-high with five blocks. He went 10-for-16 from the floor, even knocking down both of his three-point attempts, showing off a growing offensive arsenal that continues to stretch defenses. It was the kind of performance that reminded fans why he’s one of the most intriguing young forwards in the country.
Tech shot a red-hot 59.3% from the field as a team, their most efficient outing of the season, and they needed every bit of it against a Northern Colorado team that refused to go quietly. The Bears shot 56.1% themselves and kept the pace up all night, but couldn’t quite match Tech’s firepower down the stretch.
The Red Raiders had five players in double figures, with Jaylen Petty and Christian Anderson each adding 14 points. Petty knocked down three of his five attempts from beyond the arc, setting a new career-high in scoring, while Anderson dished out a team-best six assists to go with his 14. Donovan Atwell chipped in 10 points, including a pair of threes, giving Tech a balanced and explosive offensive attack.
Watts’ 36 points marked the highest single-game total for a Red Raider since Toppin dropped 41 last season against Arizona State. But it wasn’t just the scoring-it was the efficiency.
He shot 92% from the floor, got to the line consistently, and delivered in the biggest moments. After Northern Colorado clawed back to tie the game at 70-all with just under 13 minutes to play, it was Toppin who stopped the bleeding with a putback, and then Watts who took over.
He hit free throws, finished at the rim, and buried a jumper to push the lead back to seven. From there, Tech never looked back.
The first half was a track meet, with both teams lighting it up. Texas Tech led 56-51 at the break behind 20 points from Watts and 11 from Petty.
The Red Raiders shot 66.7% from the field in the opening 20 minutes and were 6-of-13 from deep. Northern Colorado actually won the rebounding battle early, 17-9, and hit seven threes of their own, but couldn’t quite find a way to slow down Tech’s relentless offensive rhythm.
Brock Wisne led the Bears with 29 points and five rebounds, while Zach Bloch added 17 points and eight assists. Northern Colorado came in riding a six-game win streak and showed plenty of fight, even tying the game midway through the second half. But ultimately, the Red Raiders’ offensive efficiency and star power proved too much.
Now at 8-3, Texas Tech shifts its focus to one of the biggest games on its regular-season calendar-Saturday night under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden against the third-ranked Blue Devils. If Watts and Toppin bring anything close to this level of production to New York, don’t be surprised if the Red Raiders make some serious noise on the national stage.