JT Toppin scores 21, lifts No. 10 Texas Tech over Kansas

Field Level Media|published: Sat 1st March, 16:58 2025

Mar 1, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward JT Toppin (15) drives to the basket during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

JT Toppin scored 21 points to lead No. 10 Texas Tech to a 78-73 win over the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday in Lawrence, Kan.

Toppin made 9 of 15 attempts from the field before fouling out with 1:47 remaining. The 6-foot-9 forward scored 18 points in a first half outburst that helped Texas Tech take an 11-point halftime lead. Christian Anderson finished with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point range, while Darrion Williams chipped in 14 points in his return from a one-game absence with a lower-body injury.

Williams put Texas Tech ahead for good with 1:27 remaining, draining a go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Red Raiders a 76-73 lead. With the win, Texas Tech moves to just 2-20 all time at Phog Allen Fieldhouse.

David Coit buried a 3-pointer to give Kansas its first lead of the afternoon, 61-60, with 8:32 remaining. Texas Tech appeared to re-establish control by going on a 10-2 run to regain a 70-63 lead, but Kansas again responded with a 10-3 run of its own to tie the game at 73 on a pair of Hunter Dickinson free throws with 1:47 left in the game.

Kerwin Walton extended Texas Tech's lead to a game-high 14 points on the Red Raiders' first field goal attempt of the second half. Things quickly started to unravel from there, as Kansas promptly stormed back with a 16-2 run over the next 5:53 to tie the game at 53 with 13:48 remaining.

The Red Raiders controlled most of the first half and led 48-37 at halftime, largely because of Toppin's first half scoring. Anderson poured in 12 points in the frame, shooting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc to lead a 3-point barrage from Texas Tech. In the first half, the visitors hit 10 of 24 shots (41.7 percent) from beyond the arc, while Kansas scored two 3-pointers on just seven attempts.

Texas Tech drained 28 of 62 (45.2 percent) shots from the field, finishing 15 of 43 (34.9 percent) from beyond the arc. Kansas connected on 29 of 60 attempts (48.3 percent) from the field and finished 4 of 18 (22.2 percent) from 3-point range.

--Field Level Media

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