In Kansas City, Mo., Arizona secured an 86-80 victory over No. 9 Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals on Friday night. Caleb Love led the charge for Arizona, scoring an impressive 27 points. This match-up saw the Wildcats capitalize on the injuries plaguing their opponents and advance to the championship game against No. 2 Houston.
Alongside Love’s standout performance, KJ Lewis contributed 15 points, while Henri Veesaar added eight crucial points late in the game, totaling 10 overall. This victory brought Arizona’s record to 22-11 in their debut season within the new league. On the opposite bench, Texas Tech encountered myriad challenges. They were without key players Chance McMillian and Darrion Williams due to injuries, and star forward JT Toppin was visibly under the weather, struggling with illness but managing to play through the game, finishing with just 11 points in his limited 25 minutes on the court.
Making matters worse for Texas Tech, their point guard Elijah Hawkins was burdened with his fourth foul early in the second half, forcing coach Grant McCasland to dig deep into his already limited bench. Despite facing a deficit of up to 14 points, the Red Raiders mounted a formidable comeback, closing the gap to 78-74 with just over two minutes left, thanks to two free throws from Christian Anderson. However, Veesaar responded promptly with consecutive baskets, sealing the game in Arizona’s favor.
The Wildcats showcased impressive form, shooting 51% from the field, including an efficient 8 out of 16 from beyond the three-point line. On the other hand, Texas Tech faced an uphill battle due to the absence of their top scorers. McMillian was sidelined following a previous injury described as an “upper body strain,” and Williams was seen in a walking boot after exacerbating a lingering foot injury. This left the Red Raiders missing a significant 28.5 points per game from their lineup.
Looking ahead, Arizona is set to face Houston in the Big 12 Tournament final. Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s tournament run ended with disappointment but exhibited resilience in the face of adversity.
