Thrilling Matchup in Lubbock
In a thrilling matchup in Lubbock, Texas, No. 12 Texas Tech managed to overcome No. 6 Houston with a final score of 90-86 on Saturday, putting an end to the Cougars’ impressive 11-game winning streak. The game featured standout performances, particularly from JT Toppin, who scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, marking his 44th career double-double. Donovan Atwell was instrumental as well, knocking down crucial consecutive three-pointers late in the game, which secured Texas Tech’s lead.
Remarkable Performances
The Cougars, despite the loss, saw a remarkable showing from their true freshman Kingston Flemings, who put up a career-high 42 points along with six assists. Houston (17-2, 5-1 Big 12), prior to this game, boasted a school record of 16 consecutive wins on the road — all within the conference — following their previous defeat against No. 8 Kansas two years ago.
Game Dynamics
This high-energy match was characterized by its back-and-forth nature, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times; Houston was in control for over 18 minutes, while Texas Tech held onto the lead for nearly 18 minutes as well. The Red Raiders dominated early, hitting 10 three-pointers and scoring 55 points in the first half against a Houston defense that entered the game ranked second in the nation for fewest points allowed, averaging only 60.1.
Key Contributions
Though Texas Tech (16-4, 6-1 Big 12) struggled with three-point shooting in the second half, they found a way to clinch the game thanks to Atwell’s timely long-range shots with just under six minutes remaining. Alongside Toppin and Atwell, who contributed five three-pointers and finished with 18 points, teammate Jaylen Petty also tallied 18 points, while Christian Anderson added 12 points and nine assists. The standout for Houston, Emmanuel Sharp, contributed 20 points.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Texas Tech extends their home record to a perfect 11-0 for the season and has won five consecutive games, with only one loss in their last 10 games — a narrow 69-65 defeat on January 6 to Houston. Texas Tech remains a formidable opponent, having previously been the only Big 12 team to beat the Cougars last season when they were crowned conference champions and national runners-up.
In their upcoming games, Houston will face TCU on Wednesday, while Texas Tech will take a brief hiatus before heading to UCF next Saturday.
