Texas Tech Faces Arizona State in Tense Matchup
In a tense matchup against Arizona State Tuesday evening, Texas Tech’s junior forward JT Toppin showcased his skill in the paint before an unfortunate incident changed the course of the game. Ranked 13th, the Red Raiders faced a challenging environment, ultimately succumbing to the Sun Devils with a score of 72-67. Toppin, a key player and preseason All-American, was averaging nearly 22 points per game this season, and his injury casts doubt on Texas Tech’s ability to recover from this defeat.
Injury Incident
During the game’s latter stages, with just over six minutes left to play, Toppin drove towards the basket but fell abruptly, clutching his right leg. Texas Tech’s coach, Grant McCasland, confirmed that Toppin sustained a lower leg injury. However, he could not gauge the seriousness of the situation immediately. After a period spent on the court, Toppin received assistance to leave the game, visibly shaken.
“He’s a fierce competitor, and it’s tough to see him go down like that. We’ll certainly get him evaluated when we return,”
— Grant McCasland
In his time on the court, Toppin was productive, contributing 20 points, grabbing eight rebounds, providing four assists, and blocking four shots. His departure left a palpable impact on the team, as they attempted to regroup from being down 61-56 at the time of the injury and subsequently falling further behind.
Reactions and Aftermath
Arizona State’s head coach, Bobby Hurley, expressed empathy toward Toppin’s situation.
“It’s always disheartening to see a great player like him get hurt, and I truly hope he’s back on the court soon,”
— Bobby Hurley
Despite the setback, Texas Tech rallied briefly, closing the gap to 70-67 in the final moments. However, a critical turnover by Christian Anderson deprived them of a chance to even the score with a three-pointer. Reflecting on the game, McCasland remarked that while Toppin’s injury shifted their momentum, he appreciated the resilience displayed by the remaining players who fought to keep the game competitive. He acknowledged, though, that a better performance earlier in the game would have put them in a stronger position for victory.
