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JT Toppin Scores 31 in Season Debut as No. 10 Texas Tech Beats Sam Houston

The preseason All-American’s return underscores Texas Tech’s top-10 ambitions ahead of a road test at No. 17 Illinois.

Overview

  • Texas Tech won 98-77 to move to 2-0 and extend its nonconference home winning streak to 40 games, improving to 18-0 in such games under coach Grant McCasland.
  • Returning from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for the opener, Toppin posted 31 points and 14 rebounds for his 20th double-double in 34 games with the Red Raiders.
  • Game accounts noted Toppin also tallied four assists and three steals and drew 13 fouls in 32 minutes as he set the tone from the opening tip.
  • Donovan Atwell hit six 3-pointers and scored 19, Christian Anderson added 18 points and seven assists, Tyeree Bryan had 12, and transfer LeJuan Watts debuted with 11 points and six rebounds.
  • Texas Tech next visits No. 17 Illinois on Tuesday, following an offseason in which Toppin chose to remain in Lubbock rather than enter the NBA draft, according to reports.