Texas Tech looks to make it back-to-back wins in Utah, faces BYU

Field Level Media|published: Tue 7th January, 01:52 2025

NCAA Basketball: Central Florida at Texas Tech

Dec 31, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward JT Toppin (15) reacts after the game against the Central Florida Knights at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Texas Tech will try to make it a clean sweep of Big 12 teams in Utah when the Red Raiders travel to Provo to face BYU on Tuesday.

Following a 93-65 romp over Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Texas Tech (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) can expect a tougher battle against BYU (10-3, 1-1), which has won 14 straight games at home.

The Cougars also figure to enter the matchup with Texas Tech with no lack of motivation after suffering their most decisive defeat since the 2021-22 season.

On Saturday, then-No. 14 Houston overwhelmed BYU with its defensive pressure and work on the boards in an 86-55 victory. Houston forced 15 turnovers, blocked seven shots, limited BYU to 37.5 percent shooting and dominated the glass, 37-24.

"There's no way to sugarcoat it. They kicked our butts pretty much in every way," BYU coach Kevin Young said.

The loss came after BYU had won four straight games, each by at least 19 points.

To get their offense back on track, the Cougars will rely on Richie Saunders, who scored a career-high 30 points in BYU's 76-56 home win over Arizona State in its Big 12 opener on New Year's Eve.

The Cougars also will look to Egor Demin, a 6-foot-9 point guard who is projected to be an NBA draft lottery pick but has struggled lately, missing his last 15 attempts from 3-point range. Denim was also slowed in December, missing three games with a knee contusion.

Texas Tech also has a first-round NBA draft prospect in JT Toppin, who leads the Red Raiders in scoring (18.6 points per game), rebounds (10.1 per game) and blocks (1.9 per game).

The Red Raiders lost their Big 12 opener at home to Central Florida, 87-83, on New Year's Eve despite getting 26 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks from Toppin.

The Red Raiders recovered on Saturday, dominating Utah. Darrion Williams delivered 19 points and nine assists, and Elijah Hawkins made 4 of 6 shots from beyond the arc and dished out eight assists.

Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland was happy with the Red Raiders' defense after calling their performance against Central Florida "one of the worst defensive games we've played, maybe since I've been coaching in Division I."

"We've got great offensive players," McCasland added. "We're growing as a team defensively."

--Field Level Media

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