The roar of a sell-out crowd at Madison Square Garden was the backdrop for a dramatic comeback that saw Texas Tech defeat undefeated Duke 82-81. The Red Raiders, ranked No. 19, were down 17 points early in the second half and faced a series of foul-out problems, yet they clawed back to win.
Game Overview
From the first whistle, the scoreboard told a story of adversity. LeJuan Watts had already fouled out, JT Toppin was one foul away, and the Red Raiders were scrambling to climb out of a 17-point hole against the third-ranked Blue Devils. Despite the mounting pressure, Texas Tech managed to stay competitive, eventually snapping a six-game losing streak against ranked opponents.
The game’s turning point came in the final minutes. Christian Anderson poured in 23 of his 27 points in the second half, including the decisive free throw with 3.4 seconds left. Texas Tech’s relentless drive culminated in an 82-81 victory, the first over a top-five team since January 2022 against No. 1 Baylor.
Key Players
Christian Anderson’s performance was the cornerstone of the comeback. He played all 40 minutes and said, “We were so competitive. In that moment all we wanted to do was win.” Anderson added, “We had some guys foul out. We had some substitution problems just because we had so many fouls and it was a short bench, but we just had a level of fight that was able to win the game.”
JT Toppin contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, providing crucial momentum swings. After a slow start, he poured in 13 points over the final 6 ½ minutes, including a baseline shot over Duke star Cameron Boozer that gave Texas Tech a 78-77 lead with 1:35 remaining.
LeJuan Watts scored 20 points in 27 minutes but fouled out with 11:33 remaining, while Leon Horner also fouled out late in the second half. Toppin’s fourth foul came just two minutes before Watts’s exit, tightening the pressure on Texas Tech.
Momentum Shifts
The first sign of a rally appeared after Duke built a 63-51 lead on a three-point play by Maliq Brown with 13:12 left. Texas Tech answered with ten straight points, and Anderson’s basket pulled them within two points about three minutes later.
Duke rebuilt its lead to 11 on Boozer’s basket with 6:29 to play. Anderson then hit three 3-pointers in a span of 3:04, cutting the margin to 76-74. Toppin’s consecutive jumpers, including the baseline shot, shifted the game to a 78-77 advantage for Texas Tech.
Coach Grant McCasland praised his team’s resilience, saying, “Just found a way against a lot of adversity to win.” The Red Raiders had been trailing by 10 at halftime and faced a 17-point deficit early in the second half, yet they fought back to win.
Key Takeaways
- Texas Tech’s 82-81 win over Duke snapped a six-game losing streak against ranked teams.
- Christian Anderson scored 27 points, with 23 in the second half, and delivered the game-deciding free throw.
- JT Toppin finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, including a late baseline shot that secured the victory.
Closing
The victory marks Texas Tech’s first win over a top-five opponent in over a year and restores confidence after close losses to Illinois and Arkansas and a 30-point defeat to Purdue. With a 9-3 record, the Red Raiders have shown that they can compete with the nation’s best, even when faced with foul trouble and a daunting deficit. The game’s dramatic finish, highlighted by Anderson’s clutch free throw and Toppin’s late heroics, will likely be remembered as one of the most exciting moments in recent Madison Square Garden college basketball history.
