In a tightly contested battle at the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals, JT Toppin led No. 9 Texas Tech to a narrow 76-74 victory over Baylor, contributing 26 points and securing 10 rebounds. Despite being positioned as the second seed, the Red Raiders had a nail-biting finish in Kansas City, Missouri, edging past Baylor in the final moments after failing to make their last 10 field-goal attempts. The crucial missed jump shot by VJ Edgecombe at the buzzer cemented Texas Tech’s triumph.
Texas Tech, with a season record of 25-7, received significant contributions from its roster, as Darrion Williams scored 14 points, while Elijah Hawkins and Kerwin Walton added 12 points each. This victory propels the Red Raiders into a semifinal clash against Arizona on Friday. On the other hand, Baylor saw a notable performance from Norchad Omier, who scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, though the team ultimately fell short.
Key insights from the game highlighted Baylor’s dependence on Omier for offensive output, as only Edgecombe also reached double figures with 11 points. Additionally, Texas Tech faced shooting challenges in the second half, succeeding in just 19.4% of their shots, and a mere 20% success rate from beyond the arc.
A critical juncture occurred when Omier incurred two fouls in quick succession, bringing his total to four with 9:46 remaining. His absence saw Baylor diminish the gap to 68-58, but their attempts to regain control were thwarted when Jeremy Roach incurred his fourth foul with just over five minutes left to play.
Texas Tech’s shooting prowess was on full display early on, particularly in the opening half where they sank 12 three-pointers, finishing with a 44.1% efficiency. This achievement significantly outpaced their season average of 10.1 three-pointers at a 37.8% accuracy rate.
Looking ahead, Baylor is anticipated to secure an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Texas Tech is set to face familiar competition in Arizona, with whom they have split meetings earlier this season.
