As it was looking like the Texas Tech men\u2019s basketball team was hoping to find themselves in the top 10 in this week\u2019s AP Poll courtesy of victories at Baylor and now #8 Houston, the Red Raiders fell short on the road to the UCF Golden Knights 88-80. Consequently, this dropped Tech to #13 overall.<\/p>\n
How They Got Here<\/p>\n
Texas Tech shot the Bears out of their own building from start to finish. Donovan Atwell<\/a> finished the first half with 7 threes in his total of 21 points. With Christian Anderson<\/a> leading all scorers with 26, and JT Toppin<\/a> with 22. As well as a relentless bounce back defensive performance from Tyree Bryan<\/a> following the disappointment from the BYU game.<\/p>\n Then came a pound-for-pound fight at the United Supermarkets Arena for vengeance to the first program Tech dropped to in Big 12 play this season. Even though Kingston Flemings<\/a> was dropping dimes like it was second nature to him finishing with 42 points, the Red Raiders responded with a collective defensive effort and dynamic scoring from their All-Americans propelling them to hand the Cougars their first loss in league play.<\/p>\n Because Tech had no mid-week game, Head Coach Grant McCasland<\/a> wanted to use this extra time for recuperation since the brawl with Houston for what was a dogfight last Saturday in Orlando.<\/p>\n The Red Raiders ended up on the wrong side of a rebounding fight, and individual defense or lack thereof brought Tech\u2019s 5-game win streak to a screeching halt after the humbling defeat to the Golden Knights.<\/p>\n What\u2019s Next For Texas Tech<\/p>\n The Red Raiders are gearing up for an immediate 48-hour turnaround hosting one of the prestigious programs in all of college basketball in the Kansas Jayhawks tonight.<\/p>\n Under the McCasland regime, Texas Tech is undefeated against the Jayhawks (2-0). Tipoff for tonight\u2019s contest gets underway at 8 o\u2019 clock.<\/p>\n Looking Around the Big 12<\/p>\n Here is where other Big 12 schools ranked in this week\u2019s AP Top 25 poll:<\/p>\n Arizona \u2013 No. 1<\/p>\n Iowa State \u2013 No. 7<\/p>\n Houston \u2013 No. 8<\/p>\n Kansas \u2013 No. 11<\/p>\n BYU \u2013 No. 16<\/p>\n Join the conversation with other Red Raiders on the\u00a0Inside The Double T<\/a>\u00a0forum.<\/p>\n Subscribe today<\/a>\u00a0to get the most in-depth Texas Tech sports and recruiting coverage.<\/p>\n Follow us on X:\u00a0@RedRaiderSports<\/a><\/p>\n Like and follow us on Instagram\u00a0@rrs_rivals<\/a>\u00a0& like us on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n