LATEST: No. 23 Texas Tech defeats UCF

No. 23 Texas Tech managed to break a season-long three-game losing streak with a 66-59 victory over UCF in Lubbock. The Red Raiders (17-6, 6-4 Big 12 Conference) relied heavily on their defense, never trailing throughout the game. Key free throws by Joe Toussaint extended their lead to five points with 41 seconds left after UCF closed the gap to 58-57. Darrion Williams contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds, further boosting Texas Tech’s lead. Despite UCF’s attempts to rally, Texas Tech’s defense proved formidable, forcing turnovers and blocking shots.

UCF struggled offensively, shooting only 36.5 percent from the field and missing the majority of their 3-point attempts. Texas Tech dominated the boards, outrebounding UCF 44-37. While Texas Tech’s shooting was not exceptional, their defense compensated for it, matching UCF’s shot-blocking prowess and recording five steals.

UCF’s leading scorers, Jalyin Sellers and Darius Johnson, were limited in their effectiveness due to Texas Tech’s defensive pressure. Kerwin Walton’s strong shooting performance in the first half helped Texas Tech secure a halftime lead, despite UCF’s poor 3-point shooting.

In summary, Texas Tech’s defensive prowess and timely scoring enabled them to secure a much-needed victory over UCF, snapping their losing streak and improving their conference record.