Arizona upset: Texas Tech inflict fresh misery in overtime thriller
No. 1 Arizona have suffered their second consecutive defeat after JT Toppin’s 31-point haul inspired Texas Tech to a 78-75 overtime victory in Tucson.
The 16th-ranked Red Raiders rallied late in regulation before surging ahead in the extra period to secure only the third win against a top-ranked opponent in their school’s history.
For the hosts, the result marks a sudden and stark downturn in fortunes.
Tommy Lloyd’s side had been imperious with a 23-0 record before succumbing to Kansas on Monday, and have now lost twice in the span of five days.
Late collapse proves costly
The Wildcats appeared to have weathered the storm, holding a solid seven-point advantage with just under four minutes remaining in regulation time.
However, the visitors refused to capitulate, mounting a furious 9-0 run to stun the McKale Center crowd.
Donovan Atwell’s corner three-pointer briefly gave Texas Tech the lead with 25 seconds on the clock, placing immense pressure on the top seeds.
While Ivan Kharchenkov managed to salvage a tie from the free-throw line to force overtime, the momentum had decisively shifted.
Toppin takes control
Once the extra period began, Toppin asserted his dominance in the paint.
The preseason All-American scored four baskets following the restart, utilising an array of tip-ins and low-post moves to dismantle the Arizona defence.
He finished the contest shooting 13-of-22 from the floor, adding 13 rebounds to secure the 47th double-double of his collegiate career.
He was ably supported by Christian Anderson, who contributed 19 points largely thanks to six successful efforts from beyond the arc.
Injury woes mount for Arizona
Compounding the frustration of the scoreline, the Wildcats were forced to navigate the second half without key personnel.
Star freshman Koa Peat was ruled out with a lower-body injury after managing just two points in the opening half.
With backup guard Dwayne Aristode also unavailable due to illness, Lloyd was effectively reduced to a six-man rotation against a physical Texas Tech outfit.
Tobe Awaka offered resistance with 16 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent the Red Raiders from leaving with a statement victory.