LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the Big 12 Conference, a strength that has made the ninth-ranked Red Raiders a team to watch as March Madness unfolds in the coming weeks.
Colorado’s 3-point defense is, well, not good.
Those traits played out in perfect unison on Wednesday night, as Texas Tech’s long-range assault in the first half, followed by inside dominance from JT Toppin after halftime, sent the Buffs back to Boulder with a 91-75 defeat at United Supermarkets Arena.
The Buffaloes played without senior point guard and leading scorer Julian Hammond III, who is dealing with a back injury. It was the Buffs’ 22nd consecutive loss against ranked foes in true road games.
CU entered the game ranked last in Big 12 games in defensive 3-point percentage, and the Red Raiders took advantage by knocking down 10 3-pointers in the first half while building a 45-33 lead at the break.
After halftime, the Red Raiders looked inside for Toppin, who scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half. The Red Raiders finished 16-for-33 on 3-pointers, hitting more than any CU foe this season.
Bangot Dak and Sebastian Rancik paced CU (11-19, 2-17 Big 12) with 12 points apiece.
No. 9 Texas Tech 91, Colorado 75
COLORADO (11-19, 2-17 Big 12)
Dak 5-9 2-5 12, Jakimovski 3-6 0-2 7, Rancik 3-8 6-6 12, Ruffin 2-6 2-2 6, Smith 3-9 0-0 8, Kossaras 0-1 1-2 1, Diop 4-4 3-4 11, Malone 5-7 0-0 10, Baskin 4-5 0-0 8. Totals 29-55 14-21 75.
TEXAS TECH (23-7, 14-5)
Toppin 10-17 8-9 30, Williams 4-10 1-2 11, Hawkins 1-4 0-1 3, McMillian 6-8 0-0 15, Walton 4-8 0-0 12, Ch.Anderson 4-11 1-1 12, Overton 2-6 3-3 8, Federiko 0-0 0-0 0, Francis 0-0 0-0 0, Green 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-64 13-16 91.
Halftime: Texas Tech 45-33; 3-Point Goals: Colorado 3-14 (Smith 2-4, Jakimovski 1-2, Dak 0-2, Rancik 0-3, Ruffin 0-3), Texas Tech 16-33 (Walton 4-8, McMillian 3-4, Ch.Anderson 3-7, Toppin 2-2, Williams 2-5, Hawkins 1-3, Overton 1-4); Fouled Out: Smith; Rebounds: Colorado 32 (Jakimovski 7), Texas Tech 32 (Toppin 14); Assists: Colorado 9 (Rancik, Ruffin, Kossaras, Baskin 2), Texas Tech 18 (Hawkins 7); Total Fouls: Colorado 17, Texas Tech 16.
