NEW YORK — In an exciting matchup during the UKG Legends Classic, Erik Reynolds II hit six three-pointers, contributing a total of 26 points for Saint Joseph’s, leading them to a narrow 78-77 victory over Texas Tech on Thursday evening. Justice Ajogbor’s crucial free throw with just 13.7 seconds remaining provided the winning point for the Hawks.
With this victory, Saint Joseph’s improves to a record of 4-1 and will advance to play against Texas, who defeated Syracuse 70-66 earlier in the event. Meanwhile, Texas Tech also holds a 4-1 record and will face Syracuse in their next game.
Reynolds showcased his shooting ability, making 6 of 11 attempts from beyond the arc. His teammate Xzayvier Brown contributed 20 points, though it came on a less-than-ideal 3-of-10 shooting performance. Notably, Brown was perfect at the foul line, sinking all 13 of his free throws. Rasheer Fleming also played a significant role, scoring 14 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Overall, the Hawks found success with their perimeter shooting, nailing 12 of 22 attempts from three-point range.
On the opposing side, Texas Tech’s JT Toppin had a standout performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing a career-high 18 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards. Darrion Williams and Chance McMillian provided substantial support, scoring 18 and 17 points respectively. Despite claiming a rebounding advantage over Saint Joseph’s (44-28), the Red Raiders struggled with their shooting, converting only 4 of 20 attempts from long range.
The excitement intensified towards the end of the game, with five lead changes and five ties occurring in the final seven minutes. Ajogbor faced pressure at the free-throw line as the game was tied, missing his first attempt but confidently hitting the second after a brief timeout. As time expired, Williams’ attempt to secure a last-minute lead fell short with a missed jumper in the paint.
Texas Tech, which trailed by 10 points at halftime, fought back with an early 8-0 run, mainly powered by Toppin, cutting the deficit to three points. With just under seven minutes remaining, McMillian’s three-point play gave the Red Raiders their first lead since the game’s opening moments. Prior to that, the Hawks had maintained as much as a 16-point lead, but Texas Tech ended the first half strong, scoring six consecutive points within the last two minutes, narrowing the gap to 45-35 at halftime.