Texas Tech defeats Arkansas 93-86
Texas Tech Edges Arkansas in Thrilling Comeback Victory at American Airlines Center
The American Airlines Center was electric on Saturday as the Red Raiders of Texas Tech hosted their non-conference foe, the Razorbacks from Arkansas. The visiting Arkansas squad came into this matchup looking to extend its winning streak, but it was the home team that stole the show with an impressive 93-86 comeback victory.
In a seesaw battle that saw both teams trading baskets throughout the first half, Arkansas took a 49-43 lead at intermission. However, Texas Tech's JT Toppin and Christian Anderson proved to be too much for the visitors to handle as they combined for 30 points and 11 rebounds in the second half.
Toppin, who scored 10 of his 30 points in the final frame, led the Red Raiders on several key possessions. His dominance was matched by Arkansas's Trevon Brazile, who poured in 24 points despite struggling from beyond the arc (4-5). The Razorbacks' star guard still managed to grab a team-high 10 rebounds.
As the game entered its final minutes, Texas Tech began to pull away, pushing their largest lead of the night at 93-86. Arkansas made one last push, but it was too little, too late as the Red Raiders held on for the thrilling 7-point win.
Advanced statistics painted a picture of a highly efficient Red Raider offense that outshot Arkansas from both inside and outside the paint (60.3% eFG% vs. 58.6%). The home team's ability to control the glass also played a significant role in their victory, as they outrebounded the visitors by 7.
For Arkansas, the loss stings given its recent momentum. The Razorbacks were expected to take down Texas Tech, but instead it was the Red Raiders coming away with the win. This result is a tough pill for head coach Eric Musselman to swallow, especially considering that his team has been ranked in several national polls this season.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Texas Tech as they continue their non-conference schedule. The Red Raiders have now beaten two top-25 teams this year and will look to keep the momentum going as they head into their upcoming matchup against Oklahoma State.
In contrast, Arkansas now sits at 10-3 overall and 4-2 in its own conference. While they are still a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA Tournament landscape, this loss is a reminder that there's always another team waiting in the wings.