The Texas Tech Red Raiders delivered a resounding 78-44 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes, with Donovan Atwell leading the charge with 20 points. This dominant performance marked Texas Tech's 18th win of the season, improving their record to 18-6. Colorado, on the other hand, fell to 14-11. The 34-point margin of victory was a reflection of Texas Tech's superiority, as they outscored Colorado 39-22 in both the first and second halves.
JT Toppin's 18 Rebounds Mark a Season High for Texas Tech
The game unfolded with Texas Tech taking control from the outset, scoring 39 points in the first half to Colorado's 22. The Red Raiders' defense was stifling, holding the Buffaloes to just 22 points in the first 20 minutes. In the second half, Texas Tech continued to pull away, scoring another 39 points to Colorado's 22. The Red Raiders' JT Toppin was a force to be reckoned with, grabbing 18 rebounds to go along with his 16 points. Christian Anderson also chipped in with 14 points and 7 assists, helping to fuel Texas Tech's dominant performance. Colorado's Isaiah Johnson led the Buffaloes with 13 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Red Raiders' balanced attack.
Donovan Atwell was the star of the show for Texas Tech, scoring 20 points to lead all scorers. JT Toppin was close behind, posting a double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds. Christian Anderson also had a strong game, scoring 14 points and dishing out 7 assists. For Colorado, Isaiah Johnson led the way with 13 points, while Ian Inman added 12 points. Barrington Hargress chipped in with 9 points, but the Buffaloes' offense was unable to keep pace with Texas Tech's high-powered attack. Atwell's 20 points marked his 10th game this season with 15 or more points, while Toppin's 18 rebounds were a season high.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The box score told the story of Texas Tech's dominance, with the Red Raiders outscoring Colorado by 34 points. Texas Tech shot 51.9% from the field, while Colorado managed just 28.6%. The Red Raiders also outrebounded the Buffaloes 43-26, with JT Toppin's 18 rebounds leading the way. Texas Tech's 39 points in both the first and second halves marked the first time this season they have scored the same number of points in both halves. Colorado's 44 points were their lowest output of the season, and their 22 points in both halves marked a new season low for points in a half.
The CHD Scout model predicted a Texas Tech victory by 12.1 points, and while the actual margin of victory was much larger, the model was still correct in picking the Red Raiders to win. The predicted score was 85-73, but Texas Tech's dominant defense held Colorado to just 44 points. The model's accuracy was a reflection of its ability to forecast the outcome of games, even if the actual score didn't match the prediction. With this win, Texas Tech improved to 18-6, while Colorado fell to 14-11. The Red Raiders' NET ranking of 20 will likely remain steady, while Colorado's NET ranking of 72 may take a hit.
This game marked a Quadrant 2 win for Texas Tech, while Colorado suffered a Quadrant 1 loss. The Red Raiders' victory improved their resume, as they continue to build a strong case for an NCAA Tournament bid. With an 18-6 record and a NET ranking of 20, Texas Tech is in good position to secure a spot in the tournament. Colorado, on the other hand, fell to 14-11 and saw their NET ranking of 72 take a hit. The Buffaloes must regroup and refocus if they hope to make a push for the tournament. This loss marked Colorado's 5th Quadrant 1 loss of the season, while Texas Tech improved to 4-3 in Quadrant 1 games.
Texas Tech's next game is scheduled for February 15th against the Baylor Bears, while Colorado will face the Utah Utes on February 14th. Both games matters for the teams' tournament hopes, as they look to build on their current momentum. Texas Tech want to continue their winning ways, while Colorado will aim to bounce back from this tough loss. With 7 games remaining in the regular season, every game counts, and both teams will be fighting for every win.