Texas Tech's JT Toppin Leads Red Raiders to Road Win Against Arizona

A potential first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft led his team to an upset victory against the No. 1-ranked team in the nation on Saturday.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The 2025-26 NCAA basketball campaign has been entertaining throughout the season. One of the most exciting games on Saturday was Texas Tech's showdown with Arizona. The Red Raiders managed to secure a 78-75 win on the road in overtime, improving to 19-6 on the season while the Wildcats dropped to 23-2. Leading the way for TTU was star forward JT Toppin, who finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, a block and zero turnovers while shooting 13-of-22 from the field.

Why it matters

Toppin, a junior, earned All-American honors in 2024-25 and has notched another impressive year in 2025-26. The Red Raiders' standout is averaging 21.9 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 55.3% from the field. Toppin's strong performance against the top-ranked Wildcats could boost his draft stock ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.

The details

Listed at 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, Toppin's strength and physicality make him a solid interior presence as a rebounder and scorer on offense. The former New Mexico transfer is a good finisher around the rim, and has solid touch on floaters, turnarounds and other shots from the middle of the paint. Playing alongside a talented point guard in Christian Anderson, who could be a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Toppin has also showcased his talent as a play finisher.

  • The 2025-26 NCAA basketball campaign has been entertaining throughout the season.
  • Saturday marked another impressive slate of contests, with multiple ranked matchups taking place throughout the day.
  • Texas Tech secured a 78-75 win over Arizona in overtime on Saturday.

The players

JT Toppin

A 6-foot-9, 230-pound junior forward for Texas Tech who is a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Toppin earned All-American honors in 2024-25 and is averaging 21.9 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals per game this season while shooting 55.3% from the field.

Christian Anderson

A talented point guard for Texas Tech who could be a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

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The takeaway

JT Toppin's dominant performance in Texas Tech's upset win over Arizona showcases his potential as a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The junior forward's combination of size, strength, and scoring ability makes him an intriguing prospect, and his continued development could solidify his status as a future pro.