No. 16 Texas Tech crushes Colorado in tune-up for No. 1 Arizona

Red Raiders dominate in 78-44 victory ahead of showdown with top-ranked Wildcats

Feb. 12, 2026 at 3:23am

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The 16th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders cruised to a 78-44 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes in a tune-up game before their highly anticipated matchup against No. 1 Arizona. Texas Tech jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back, dominating on both ends of the floor and coasting to their most lopsided win of the season.

Why it matters

This decisive victory over Colorado serves as an impressive warm-up for Texas Tech as they prepare to face the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats on Saturday. The Red Raiders' dominant performance showcases their ability to quickly build and maintain a large lead, which could prove crucial against the nation's best team.

The details

Texas Tech bolted to a 39-22 halftime lead and maintained that same 17-point margin in the second half to cruise to the 78-44 victory. J.T. Toppin led the way for the Red Raiders with 16 points and 18 rebounds, while Donovan Atwell caught fire from 3-point range, hitting 6-of-10 from deep and finishing with a game-high 20 points. Colorado struggled mightily, shooting just 29.1% from the field and committing 9 turnovers in the first half alone.

  • Texas Tech and Colorado previously met on January 10, with the Red Raiders holding on for a 73-71 victory.
  • Texas Tech's 78-44 win over Colorado on February 12, 2026 was their most lopsided victory of the season.

The players

J.T. Toppin

A dominant interior presence for Texas Tech, Toppin recorded a double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds in the victory.

Donovan Atwell

The sharpshooting guard for Texas Tech led all scorers with 20 points, connecting on 6-of-10 from 3-point range.

Isaiah Johnson

The leading scorer for Colorado, Johnson had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

Texas Tech's dominant win over Colorado serves as an impressive tune-up for their highly anticipated showdown against No. 1 Arizona on Saturday. The Red Raiders' ability to quickly build and maintain a large lead, coupled with their balanced scoring attack, suggests they may have the firepower to challenge the nation's top team.