Texas Tech’s J.T. Toppin, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, injured his right knee and did not play the last six-plus minutes of the 13th-ranked Red Raiders’ 72-67 upset loss to Arizona State on Tuesday in Tempe, Ariz.
Toppin, who had 20 points and eight rebounds, fell hard to the ground while making a drive to the basket and clutched his right knee before he was helped to the bench.
A few minutes later, he was assisted to the locker room, and he did not return.
Arizona State (14-12, 5-8 Big 12) scored the last six points of an 8-0 run after Toppin became injured, going up 67-56 with 3:28 remaining.
Christian Anderson fueled an 8-2 run for Texas Tech (19-7, 9-4) with a 3-pointer and two free throws, trimming the deficit to 69-64 with 1:44 left.
Maurice Odum, who led Arizona State with 23 points, missed a jumper and fouled Jaylen Petty on the rebound.
After Petty made 1 of 2 free-throw attempts with 41 seconds remaining, Anderson stole the ball at midcourt and made a layup with 29 seconds left to cut the margin to 69-67.
Another turnover by Arizona State against full-court pressure resulted in a foul that sent 87.1% free-throw shooter Donovan Atwell to the free-throw line.
Atwell missed the front end of the one-and-one situation.
After two missed shots in the lane, Arizona State retained possession when Texas Tech could not corral the rebound.
Anthony Johnson was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws to put Arizona State ahead 70-67 with eight seconds left.
Johnson made 3 of 4 foul shots before Anderson committed his seventh turnover and subsequently fouled out. Odum hit two at the foul line with 1.3 seconds to go, sealing the outcome.
Texas Tech committed 17 turnovers that led to 21 points for Arizona State.
Massamba Diop finished with 14 points, Santiago Trouet 13 points and Johnson 11 for the Sun Devils.
Anderson wound up with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists. Atwell finished with 12 points, all coming on 3-pointers (4-of-8 performance).
The Sun Devils scored 10 unanswered points, six by Odum, to take a 57-47 lead with 10:31 remaining.
Toppin had six points and Anderson hit a 3-pointer to fuel a 9-2 run that cut the gap to 59-56 with 7:07 left.
–Field Level Media
