In a significant matchup on January 14, 2026, Texas Tech secured an 88-74 victory over Utah at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, marking the Utes” first visit to the venue as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The game highlighted the prowess of the Red Raiders, particularly through the performances of their all-Big 12 stars, JT Toppin and Christian Anderson.
Throughout the contest, the Utes demonstrated moments of competitiveness, but once again fell victim to a familiar pattern. After a brief period of tight play, the Red Raiders surged ahead with an 18-1 run that extended a narrow one-point lead into an 18-point advantage, bringing the score to 42-24 in the first half. Despite the lengthy remainder of the game, the outcome appeared all but decided against a seasoned Texas Tech team.
Utah”s assistant coach, Raphael Chillious, acknowledged the challenge posed by the Red Raiders, stating, “They make the extra pass, and those guys made shots tonight. I think a lot of teams have a tough time with them on nights that they”re making shots, because they can all shoot it.”
By halftime, Utah was trailing 50-38. Although they managed to only be outscored by two points in the second half, the Utes fell to 8-9 overall and 0-4 in conference play, as defensive lapses continued to plague their efforts. Texas Tech capitalized on these shortcomings, shooting 57.1% in the first half and finishing the game at 51.4%.
Toppin was a standout performer, finishing with a game-high 31 points on 14 of 23 shooting, along with 13 rebounds, seven assists, five blocks, and a steal. His dominant presence underscored why he was named the Big 12 preseason player of the year, marking his sixth consecutive game with a double-double. Chillious noted, “He can make up any mistake that their guards make on the perimeter, on defense. First jump is great. Second jump is so quick, defensively and offensively, he”s hard to deal with.”
Anderson also made a significant impact, scoring 26 points while tying his season high with six 3-pointers, and contributing 10 assists and three rebounds. Despite the bench generating a mere two points, the performance of starting players like Donovan Atwell, who added 12 points and five rebounds, proved sufficient for the Red Raiders.
Utah struggled with physicality, getting out-rebounded 41-28, including a 13-6 deficit on the offensive boards, resulting in a 14-6 advantage in second-chance points for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders” 18-1 run was particularly demoralizing, occurring right after Utah managed to momentarily take a 20-19 lead.
Chillious reflected on the game, mentioning, “We were getting punched out early, came back … and then we took I think our shot selection at that point helped their next run. Sometimes our shots or turnovers led to their transition. When they get in transition, they”re tremendous because they spread out.”
Despite the loss, Utah displayed resilience, fighting back on multiple occasions. The Utes matched their season high in three-point attempts, making 12 of 25, while Texas Tech hit 13 of 31. Keanu Dawes led Utah with 18 points, including a career-best four 3-pointers, while Don McHenry also scored 18 points with three from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, Utah will return home to face TCU on Saturday, before hitting the road for two challenging matchups against Kansas State and No. 11 BYU next week. Coach Chillious expressed confidence in the team”s potential for a breakthrough, stating, “It”s coming. As long as they keep fighting and trust each other and trust the game plan, execute the scout, it”s coming.”
