Texas Tech Surges as Next Opponent for Arizona State Men's Basketball

Red Raiders boast wins over ranked teams, led by reigning Big 12 Player of the Year

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Arizona State men's basketball team will face a tough challenge in their next game against surging Texas Tech, who are coming off an upset victory over No. 1 Arizona and also have wins over ranked opponents Houston and BYU this season. Texas Tech is led by junior forward J.T. Toppin, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year who is averaging a double-double.

Why it matters

This matchup between Arizona State and Texas Tech features two teams heading in opposite directions, with the Red Raiders establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12 while the Sun Devils were predicted to finish last in their conference in the preseason. A win over the highly-ranked Red Raiders would be a major boost for Arizona State's postseason hopes.

The details

Texas Tech defeated No. 1 Arizona 78-75 in overtime in their last game, led by Toppin's 31 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Sophomore guard Christian Anderson also had a big game for the Red Raiders with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. Arizona State is coming off an 85-76 win over Oklahoma State in their last outing on February 10th.

  • The game will be played at 9 p.m. MST on February 17th at Desert Financial Arena.
  • Texas Tech and Arizona State previously played twice last season, with the Red Raiders winning both matchups, including a 111-106 double-overtime thriller in Lubbock.

The players

J.T. Toppin

A junior forward for Texas Tech who is the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year and the only player in the country averaging a double-double this season at 21.9 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Christian Anderson

A sophomore guard for Texas Tech who scored 19 points with 6 rebounds and 8 assists in the Red Raiders' upset win over No. 1 Arizona.

Bobby Hurley

The head coach of the Arizona State men's basketball team.

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What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step forward in their quest for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Texas Tech has proven itself as one of the top teams in the country this season with impressive wins over ranked opponents, led by the dominant play of reigning Big 12 Player of the Year J.T. Toppin. Arizona State has a chance to pull off a major upset and boost their postseason hopes, but will need to find a way to slow down the Red Raiders' high-powered offense.