JT Toppin went off for 30 points and 14 rebounds and No. 9 Texas Tech matched the program record for the third time this season with 16 3-pointers in a 91-75 win on Wednesday at a sold-out United Supermarkets Arena.
The Red Raiders (23-7, 14-5 Big 12) never trailed in the game and finished with a 15-3 record at home this season. Tech went 16-for-33 (48.5 percent) from 3-point range with seven players making at least one for the second straight game along with having 18 assists and only six turnovers. The Buffaloes (11-19, 2-17 Big 12) were limited to just 3-for-14 from beyond the arc in a game where both teams had 32 rebounds. Along with its 3-pointers, Tech shot 48.4 percent from the field and was 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) at the free-throw line.
"This arena is amazing," said Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland who improved to 30-5 at the USA. "Our students were unreal. I never want to take it for granted and am so thankful to be a part of this. For our guys to have that atmosphere at home is awesome. Our team shared the ball well and didn't turn it over and put ourselves in position to win the game."
Toppin recorded his 13th double-double of the season and 25th of his career by going 10-for-17 from the field, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. He pulled down six offensive rebounds in the performance and was 8-of-9 at the free-throw line. Chance McMillian finished with 13 points, going 3-for-4 on 3-pointers and 6-of-8 from the field. Kerwin Walton went 4-for-8 on 3-pointers, Christian Anderson scored 12 points with three 3s and Darrion Williams added 11 points with two 3-pointers. Elijah Hawkins led Tech with seven assists and made one 3 and Kervin Overton made another and finished with eight points.
The Red Raiders, who had a Big 12-best 48.5 percent showing against Colorado, were coming off a win over Kansas where they made 15 3-pointers and also have 16 3-pointers made this season against Bethune-Cookman and Oklahoma State. Tech is now shooting 37.9 percent on 3-pointers this season and extended a program record with its 18th game with 10 or more. The team has now shot 45 percent or better from deep in six games this season. Tech, which is now averaging 81.0 points per game, has scored 90-plus in three Big 12 games after its eighth double-figure win margin against conference opponents.
Toppin, who scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half, has now scored 30 or more points three times this season and is averaging 17.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this season. He's the first Texas Tech player with three 30-point games in a season since Keenan Evans during the 2017-18 season. Toppin matched a career-high with his two 3-pointers and has now scored 20 or more points in 12 games this season. He's also scored in double figures for a season-best eight straight games.
Texas Tech took a 45-33 lead into halftime after going 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) from 3-point range and limiting Colorado to just 2-for-7 from deep. McMillian led Tech with 13 points at the break, going 3-for-3 on his 3-point attempts, including scoring the first points of the game on the second possession and making his third to push a run to 8-0 and the lead to 33-22. Toppin and Williams had nine points each while Anderson hit the final two 3-pointers of the half and went to the locker room with six points. Hawkins already had four assists through 20 minutes and Toppin was leading the team with four rebounds and a blocked shot. Tech was 15-for-30 from the field and 5-of-6 at the free-throw line while the Buffaloes were 13-of-28 from the field and 5-of-8 at the line.
The Red Raiders extended their 12-point halftime lead with Overton hitting a 3-pointer for a 56-43 lead in the second half and were up 75-62 after Walton hit a pair. Walton was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc in the second half. Tech was 6-for-16 from 3-point range in the second half, matching the program record with its 16th on a Walton make to put them up 88-68 with two minutes to play.
Texas Tech finishes off the regular season with a road trip to play Arizona State at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Tempe, Arizona. The Red Raiders earned an 111-106 overtime win over the Sun Devils in the first matchup between the teams with Toppin leading the way with 41 points.