PROVO, Utah — In a thrilling game on Tuesday night, Texas Tech defeated BYU with a score of 72-67, ending the Cougars’ 14-game home winning streak.
Elijah Hawkins was instrumental for the Red Raiders, achieving a new career high by sinking six 3-pointers and finishing the game with 22 points. Darrion Williams also had a significant performance, contributing 18 points on an impressive 7-of-11 shooting. Chance McMillian added depth to the offensive efforts, scoring 16 points and securing eight rebounds for Texas Tech, now holding a record of 11-3 and 2-1 in the Big 12 Conference.
On the opposing side, Fousseyni Traore was the top scorer for BYU, putting up 14 points, while Mawot Mag added 11 points to the team’s total.
The first half saw a competitive back-and-forth between the teams. Trey Stewart closed the half with a 3-pointer that provided BYU a narrow 34-32 lead. As the second half progressed, Traore scored six points along with a 3-pointer from Baker, setting up Egor Demin’s dunk that propelled BYU to a five-point lead, which marked the largest margin between either team up to that moment.
However, the Red Raiders responded with a strong offensive push led by Hawkins and McMillian, resulting in a 17-5 run that shifted the momentum and gave Texas Tech a 65-58 advantage with just over three minutes left in the game.
In the waning moments, Richie Saunders managed to convert a driving layup and then hit two free throws, pulling the Cougars within three points with just under two minutes on the clock. However, Williams quickly set up McMillian for a crucial layup. Mag added a putback of a missed shot by Traore, narrowing the margin to 67-64 with just over a minute remaining. Williams then scored again but missed the accompanying free throw, whereas Hawkins sealed the game with two successful free throws, extending Texas Tech’s lead to 71-64 with only 35 seconds to play.
With this result, BYU, who now stands at 10-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12, suffered its first loss in conference play after a previous tough defeat to No. 15 Houston. That game resulted in an 86-55 loss for the Cougars, marking their first 30-point defeat since the 2018-19 season.
The match showcased the competitive nature of college basketball this season, as both teams continue to strive for success in their respective conferences.
