Overview
- Texas Tech beat No. 3 Illinois 84-78 at United Supermarkets Arena to move to 3-0 and push the Red Raiders’ nonconference home winning streak to 49 games.
- A temporary restraining order from Judge John Grace made transfer Jamichael Stillwell eligible to play, and he debuted with 11 points and 13 rebounds that helped Texas Tech control the glass.
- Cruz Davis led the Red Raiders with 20 points, including 13 in a dominant first half that built a lead as large as 22 points.
- Illinois rallied in the second half, led by Andrej Stojakovic’s 14 second-half points, but 16 turnovers and an 8-for-19 performance at the free-throw line kept the Illini from completing the comeback.
- Key absences and injuries shaped the game—Texas Tech remained without JT Toppin and Illinois was missing David Mirkovic and Jake Davis—and the court ruling on Stillwell raises questions about how the NCAA’s five-for-five rule will be applied going forward.