Red Raiders demolish Buffs behind Toppin double-double

Ian Inman unofficially visited Texas Tech in 2024, but wasn't extended a scholarship offer from the school. Wednesday marked his first career game in Lubbock. (Photo via CUBuffsMBB/X)

The Colorado Buffaloes (14-11, 4-8 Big 12) were dominated 78-44 in Lubbock, Texas, by the No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders (18-6, 8-3 Big 12) on Wednesday. 

Team three-point shooting and elite rebounding from star forward JT Toppin were the keys to Texas Tech’s second win over the Buffs this season.

The game was a scrum initially as both teams fought ferociously for early possessions. 

Less than two minutes into the game, a wild sequence took place with the game tied at two. Colorado forward Sebastian Rancik forced a turnover and dished the ball to fellow forward Bangot Dak in the paint. However, the seven-footer was blocked at the rim by Texas Tech forward Lejuan Watts. Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson corralled the ball, but was fouled before the chaos could continue. Despite it all, though, Rancik traveled shortly after the inbound, and the Red Raiders wound up with possession.

That sequence was representative of the early going, as Texas Tech racked up blocks, and both teams piled onto their turnover numbers.

In the first half, the Red Raiders recorded six blocks, with four by the second media timeout. 

Colorado, despite averaging the second-least turnovers per game in the Big 12 (9.8), amassed nine in the first half.

Those turnovers, alongside a 19-percent shooting clip through the first 14:00 of play, had Colorado in a major scoring drought. The Buffs trailed 24-8 at that point, but before things got too ugly, an unlikely hero tightened things up off the bench.

Buffaloes guard Ian Inman, who was only averaging 2.2 points per game coming into the night, knocked down four straight three-pointers in the last five minutes of the half. The freshman accounted for 12 of Colorado’s 22 first-half points.

Despite Inman’s scoring efforts, Colorado’s turnovers and poor rebounding gave Texas Tech endless opportunities. 

Red Raider guard Donovan Atwell led the way with 12 points of his own in the first half. Additionally, fellow guard Christian Anderson contributed 10 first-half points, and Toppin secured 11 rebounds.

Texas Tech finished the first half dominantly, leading 39-22 at halftime.

"It was 13 to zero at halftime on second-chance points," Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said postgame. “...When you can't make a shot, maybe you can go get an offensive rebound and get a put-back. But we're not tough enough to do that, and Texas Tech is."

Colorado has been known for its ability to bounce back from sluggish starts with a strong second half this season. That was seen in Colorado’s near 24-point comeback against Texas Tech earlier in the year. But that couldn’t have been further from the case in Lubbock.

The second half was arguably worse than the first, despite the Buffs scoring the same number of points in the frame.

Colorado came out of the locker room limping, while the Red Raiders adjusted. 

Texas Tech eliminated Inman from the Buffs’ gameplan, as he was 0-for-3 from the field in the second half. As for Colorado, it struggled to find anyone to pick up the slack.

CU guards Barrington Hargress and Johnson both recorded seven points in the second half, but only combined for four field goals.

Colorado’s aforementioned limp at the start of the second half came via an airball on its opening possession, failure to guard the 3-point shot, and avoidable turnovers. 

With 16:55 remaining in the game, Colorado seemed to have a slight break as Texas Tech forward Luke Bamgboye missed two straight free-throw attempts. However, Buffs center Fawaz ‘Tacko’ Ifaola committed a lane violation, and Bamgboye converted his extra chance.

Moments like this prevented the Buffaloes from generating any momentum, and the Red Raiders quickly pushed their lead to 50-23. Promptly after they reached the half-century mark, Johnson gave them the ball right back on a backcourt violation.

However, Johnson redeemed himself with his scoring, and alongside Hargress, the Buffs cut the lead back to 20 points. But no sooner did Ifaola draw a technical foul, giving Texas Tech more points and a free possession.

The game fell apart for Colorado during its final 13:00.

The Red Raider guards continued their prolific scoring, as Atwell, Anderson and Jaylen Petty finished with 20, 14 and 12 points, respectively. They shot 50 percent from 3-point range in the process.

And while Toppin contributed on the boards in the first half, his shot came around as the night rolled on as well. He finished with a 16-point, 18-rebound double-double, his 14th of the season.

Texas Tech finished the night with nine blocks, tied for second-most in a single game in school history.

Their demolition of the Buffs resulted in Colorado’s lowest-scoring game of the season by 17 points.

However, the Buffaloes won’t get any rest, as they travel to Provo, Utah, to face the No. 22 BYU Cougars (18-6, 6-5) on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. MT (FS1).