JT Toppin debuts with 31 points, and 14 rebounds as No. 10 Texas Tech beats Sam Houston
AP
Nov 07, 2025
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) Preseason AP All-America forward JT Toppin scored 31 points and had 14 rebounds in his season debut to lead five players in double figures for No. 10 Texas Tech Red Raiders as the Red Raiders beat Sam Houston Bearkats 98-77 on Friday night.
It was Toppin's 20th double-double in 34 games for the Red Raiders since transferring from New Mexico after his freshman season. The 6-foot-9 junior, who missed the season-opening win over Lindenwood three nights earlier because of a lower-body injury, had double-doubles in all four NCAA Tournament games last March when they made it to the Elite Eight.
Donovan Atwell had 19 points with six 3-pointers for the Red Raiders (2-0), who won their 40th consecutive nonconference home game since an overtime loss to Kentucky in January 2020. They are 18-0 under third-year coach Grant McCasland.
Christian Anderson added 18 points and seven assists while Tyeree Bryan had 12 points. LeJuan Watts had 11 points and six rebounds in his Tech debut. Watts, a Washington State transfer who was tabbed the preseason Big 12 newcomer of the year, also was listed with a lower-body injury when he missed Tuesday night's opener.
Justin Begg had 17 points for Sam Houston (1-1), and Kashie Natt had 16 points with 11 rebounds. Veljko Ilic had 13 points.
Toppin made a layup on the game’s first shot, then blocked Sam Houston’s first shot. He scored eight points in a 12-3 run in the first half that put the Red Raiders ahead to stay, and was part of a bigger 25-12 spurt that put them up 47-37 at halftime.
Sam Houston: Plays at Utah on Nov. 15.
Texas Tech: Plays at No. 17 Illinois on Tuesday.
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1st Half
SHOU
Bearkats
37
TXTCH
Red Raiders
47
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Veljko Ilic vs. JT Toppin (Christian Anderson gains possession)
19:44
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup
0-2
19:28
JT Toppin blocks Po'Boigh King's two point layup
19:26
Bearkats offensive rebound
19:17
+2
Veljko Ilic makes two point jump shot (Justin Begg assists)
2-2
19:01
JT Toppin misses three point jump shot
18:59
Kashie Natt defensive rebound
18:46
Justin Begg turnover (lost ball) (Christian Anderson steals)
18:39
+2
Nolan Groves makes two point jump shot (Christian Anderson assists)
2-4
18:31
Kashie Natt misses two point jump shot
18:29
JT Toppin defensive rebound
18:29
Damon Nicholas Jr. personal foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
18:12
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup (Christian Anderson assists)
2-6
17:49
Justin Begg misses three point jump shot
17:47
JT Toppin defensive rebound
17:41
Donovan Atwell misses three point jump shot
17:39
Kashie Natt defensive rebound
17:35
+2
Damon Nicholas Jr. makes two point layup
4-6
17:18
JT Toppin turnover (lost ball) (Kashie Natt steals)
17:14
+2
Kashie Natt makes two point dunk
6-6
16:54
Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
16:52
Tyeree Bryan offensive rebound
16:37
Veljko Ilic personal foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
16:28
Christian Anderson misses two point jump shot
16:26
JT Toppin offensive rebound
16:19
+3
Christian Anderson makes three point jump shot
6-9
15:55
+3
Kashie Natt makes three point jump shot
9-9
15:43
Jaxson Ford personal foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
15:43
TV timeout
15:27
Kashie Natt shooting foul (LeJuan Watts draws the foul)
15:27
+1
LeJuan Watts makes regular free throw 1 of 2
9-10
15:27
LeJuan Watts misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:27
Jaxson Ford defensive rebound
15:27
JT Toppin personal foul (Jaxson Ford draws the foul)
15:08
+2
Kashie Natt makes two point layup
11-10
14:53
Isaiah Manning shooting foul (LeJuan Watts draws the foul)
14:53
+1
LeJuan Watts makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-11
14:53
+1
LeJuan Watts makes regular free throw 2 of 2
11-12
14:39
+2
Jaxson Ford makes two point jump shot (Jacobe Coleman assists)
13-12
14:25
Jaxson Ford personal foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
14:19
+2
Christian Anderson makes two point jump shot
13-14
13:54
Jacobe Coleman misses two point jump shot
13:52
LeJuan Watts defensive rebound
13:41
Marial Akuentok misses two point hook shot
13:39
LeJuan Watts offensive rebound
13:34
Donovan Atwell misses three point jump shot
13:32
Isaiah Manning defensive rebound
13:25
Isaiah Manning misses three point jump shot
13:23
Christian Anderson defensive rebound
13:11
Jacob Walker blocks Jaylen Petty's three point jump shot
13:09
Bearkats defensive rebound
12:56
Marial Akuentok blocks Matt Dann's two point layup
12:54
Matt Dann offensive rebound
12:38
Matt Dann turnover (lost ball)
12:21
Marial Akuentok offensive foul (Jacobe Coleman draws the foul)
12:21
Marial Akuentok turnover (offensive foul)
12:21
Justin Begg turnover (lost ball) (Christian Anderson steals)
12:00
Damon Nicholas Jr. blocks JT Toppin's two point layup
11:58
JT Toppin offensive rebound
11:58
Damon Nicholas Jr. shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
11:58
JT Toppin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:58
JT Toppin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:58
Veljko Ilic defensive rebound
11:58
Jump ball. (Bearkats gains possession)
11:58
TV timeout
11:46
+2
Po'Boigh King makes two point jump shot (Kashie Natt assists)
15-14
11:25
+3
Tyeree Bryan makes three point jump shot (JT Toppin assists)
15-17
11:03
+2
Veljko Ilic makes two point jump shot
17-17
10:30
+3
Christian Anderson makes three point jump shot (Nolan Groves assists)
17-20
10:18
+2
Kashie Natt makes two point jump shot
19-20
10:02
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup
19-22
9:46
Justin Begg misses two point jump shot
9:44
Veljko Ilic offensive rebound
9:39
JT Toppin shooting foul (Veljko Ilic draws the foul)
9:39
Veljko Ilic misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:39
+1
Veljko Ilic makes regular free throw 2 of 2
20-22
9:11
Kashie Natt personal foul (Tyeree Bryan draws the foul)
9:11
Tyeree Bryan misses regular free throw 1 of 1
9:11
CJ Beaumont defensive rebound
9:11
Nolan Groves personal foul (CJ Beaumont draws the foul)
8:55
Marial Akuentok personal foul (Veljko Ilic draws the foul)