JT Toppin shines in return as No. 10 Texas Tech topples Sam Houston

Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin led No. 10 Texas Tech with 31 points and 14 rebounds on Friday as the Red Raiders pulled away for a 98-77 victory over Sam Houston in Lubbock, Texas.

Toppin, who missed the season-opening win over Lindenwood with a lower-body injury, added four assists and three steals. Donovan Atwell contributed 19 points and Christian Anderson chipped in 18 points and seven assists for the Red Raiders (2-0).

Tyeree Bryan scored 12 points and reserve LeJuan Watts had 11 in the win.

Justin Begg led Sam Houston (1-1) with 17 points, while Kashie Natt totaled 16 points and 11 rebounds. Veljko Ilic scored 13 for the Bearkats, who led by four with less than seven minutes left in the first half.

Trailing by 10 at halftime, the Bearkats cut their deficit to six on Ilic and Jacob Walker baskets less than two minutes into the second half.

Atwell's third 3-pointer pushed Texas Tech's advantage to 62-49 with 14 minutes left.

Toppin's layup and subsequent free throws with 7:52 remaining gave the Red Raiders their largest lead to that point at 77-60.

After Isaiah Manning broke up the run with a free throw, Texas Tech extended its edge to 22 on Toppin's reverse layup at the 5:55 mark.

Ilic's jumper gave the Bearkats a 26-22 lead with 7:48 remaining in the first half -- stamping a 7-0 Sam Houston run.

Toppin then scored four straight points to begin a 12-3 Texas Tech run, as the Red Raiders grabbed a 34-29 edge with just over three minutes left in the opening half.

Atwell knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to push the lead to 11.

Texas Tech led 47-37 at halftime, paced by Toppin's 14 points and Anderson's 13.

--Field Level Media