Desert Storm: No. 16 Texas Tech Stuns No. 1 Arizona in Overtime Thriller

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The college basketball world was turned upside down on Valentine’s Day as the No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders marched into a raucous McKale Center and toppled the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats 78–75 in an overtime classic.

The victory marks just the third time in program history that Texas Tech has defeated a top-ranked team and hands Arizona its second consecutive loss after a historic 23–0 start to the season.

The Toppin Takeover

While many expected Arizona’s frontcourt to dominate, it was Texas Tech forward JT Toppin who delivered a performance for the ages. The preseason All-American put the Red Raiders on his back, playing all but 41 seconds of the 45-minute marathon.

Stat Line of the Year: Toppin finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 0 turnovers.
Historical Milestone: According to ESPN, Toppin is the only player in at least 20 years to record 30+ points and 10+ rebounds with zero turnovers against a No. 1-ranked team.
Overtime Heroics: Toppin scored eight of his points in the extra period, using a series of sophisticated post moves and tip-ins to keep the Wildcats at bay.

The Turning Point: Three-Point Disparity

The game was a clash of styles. Arizona attacked the rim relentlessly, outscoring Tech in the paint, but the Red Raiders’ perimeter shooting proved to be the ultimate equalizer.

Long Distance Connection: Texas Tech knocked down 11 three-pointers (33.3%), while Arizona struggled significantly, hitting just 4-of-16 (25%) from beyond the arc.
Christian Anderson: The guard was a tireless workhorse, playing all 45 minutes and scoring 19 points with six critical triples.
Clutch Atwell: After Arizona built a 64–57 lead with 3:29 left in regulation, Donovan Atwell sparked a 9–0 run with a corner three. He repeated the feat in overtime, burying a triple that gave Tech a cushion they would not relinquish.

Adversity for the Wildcats

Arizona (23–2, 10–2 Big 12) played with a thin rotation due to the absence of Dwayne Aristode (illness). The situation grew dire when star forward Koa Peat exited at halftime with a lower-body injury and did not return.

Despite the setbacks, the Wildcats showed championship grit:

Tobe Awaka and Brayden Burries each fought for 16 points.
Ivan Kharchenkov forced overtime with two ice-cold free throws with 16 seconds remaining in regulation.
Ball Security: The Wildcats committed only 3 turnovers all game—an incredible feat in a high-intensity overtime matchup—but couldn’t overcome their cold shooting from deep.

Game Box Score: #16 TTU 78, #1 ARI 75

Period	1st	2nd	OT	Final
Texas Tech	32	34	12	78
Arizona	32	34	9	75

Leading Scorer: JT Toppin (31 PTS, 13 REB)
Bench Points: Arizona 23, Texas Tech 6
Attendance: 14,688 (Sellout)

What It Means for March

This victory significantly bolsters Texas Tech’s resume for a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament. For Arizona, the loss creates a three-way tie atop the Big 12 standings between the Wildcats, Houston, and Iowa State.