LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The No. 15 Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-4, 4-1) earned their third-straight win with an 84-71 victory over No. 11 BYU in front of 15,098 fans Saturday night.
“Man, the energy in the United Supermarkets Arena is just, it’s hard to describe to people until you experience it and just the will to win in the building,” said head basketball coach Grant McCasland.
Huge win at USA for Red Raiders. Next game is in Waco.(KCBD Photo)
With 9:26 remaining in the game, BYU held a 61-52 lead before the Red Raiders exploded for a 32-10 run to end the contest.
“Our guys believed that we were going to win the game, but we had to do it in a very defensive way and in the last 10 minutes of that game, we probably played the best defense we played this year.”
Days after a 31-point performance against Utah, JT Toppin scored 27 points-along with 12 rebounds and played all 40 minutes. While Christian Anderson had 22 points, LeJuan Watts scored 20. When asked about Toppin’s performance, Coach McCasland said he’s just as impressed with how he’s progressed on the defensive side of the ball- to go with his recent high-scoring performances.
“JT’s a worker, man. And the thing that’s added to this is JT’s not only just working, now he’s fighting for us to be great defensively. And that to me is where our team’s making the biggest jump.”
The 1996 Texas Tech men’s team that went 30-2 on their way to the Sweet Sixteen 30 years ago was honored late in the first half, and former coach James Dickey received a standing ovation. Very few appreciate Dickey’s legacy as much as his protege, Coach McCasland.
“I love Coach Dickey. I mean, I genuinely love Coach Dickey, man. He’s a mentor to me. He’s a guy I talk to regularly. He’s got such great wisdom in this game. He genuinely cares about people, and he loved being a Red Raider, you know?” McCasland said. “And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. And that team, when they’re around us, they see the love that they have for this place and it’s really cool.”
That team also won both the regular-season and tournament title during the Southwest Conference’s final year of existence.
The Red Raiders return to the hardwood Tuesday night in Waco, where they face the Baylor Bears. Tip-off set for 8 p.m. at the Foster Pavilion.
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