number 13 texas tech was upset with the host arizona state 72-67 Tuesday night in Tempe and saw Tara ahead JT Toppin Lost due to injury at the end of the second half.
Toppin was driving to the basket with 6:03 left when he caught his right foot and fell into a heap. The preseason All-America selection – who averaged 21.9 points – limped off the court, requiring assistance and did not return. He finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland confirmed the injury was to Toppin’s lower leg, but was unsure of the severity.
“It’s hard to say until we see it up close,” McCasland said. “But I just know he’s really disappointed. He’s very competitive. We’ll come back and take a look at him.”
Texas Tech– Won 78-75 overtime not then. 1 Arizona – The three-match winning streak has ended. The Red Raiders were visibly shaken when Toppin left the field. He sat on the bench for a while before going back to the locker room.
It was Arizona State’s first win over a nationally ranked opponent after defeating No. 23 West Virginia 65-57 on January 21, 2025. It was also a big win for embattled coach Bobby Hurley, who has struggled to produce consistent winners during his 11 years in the desert.
Hurley began the postgame press conference by sending best wishes to Toppin.
Hurley said, “I hope he’s OK, and I hate to see a guy go out of the game like that. He’s one of the best players in the country.” “My heart goes out to him and I hope he gets back to them soon.”
Texas Tech trailed 61–56 at the injury time and trailed 67–56 over the next few minutes. The Red Raiders regrouped and went up 70–67 in the final seconds, but Christian Anderson Turned the ball over, causing him to miss a chance to tie the score with a 3-pointer.
“It shocked us a little bit,” McCasland said of Toppin’s injury. “But, man, we’ve got to have a competitive group and find a way to get it to a one-possession game. Gave yourself a chance late, that’s what you want. I told my team I liked the group that was on the floor at the end and had a fight.
“If we had done that in the last 38, 37 minutes, we would have put ourselves in a better position.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
