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UCF and host Texas Tech launch league play on Tuesday in a matchup of teams off to strong starts and looking to carve out a spot among the upper echelon in the rugged Big 12 Conference.

The Knights (9-2) play their first true road game of the season in what has become one of the league’s toughest venues. The Red Raiders (9-2) are 8-0 at home this year and were 7-2 in Big 12 home games last season in Lubbock.

To solve the Red Raiders’ home advantage, the Knights will lean on a veteran trio.

Texas native Jordan Ivy-Curry leads UCF with 16.3 points per game, Keyshawn Hall is adding 15.2 points and Darius Johnson has been solid all-around with 14.7 points, 4.5 assists and a Big 12-best 3.1 steals per outing.

In the Knights’ 75-61 win against Texas Tech last season, Johnson had 16 points, five assists, four steals and no turnovers in 33 minutes.

“He can dictate the flow of the game on both ends,” Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland said of Johnson. “I think that’s the key to their team. … Any time you have that great of point guard play you are putting your team in a great position.”

Getting a key player back could enhance Texas Tech’s position.

Dynamic big man JT Toppin is expected to return after missing the last four games with a lower leg injury. He leads the Red Raiders with 18.6 points and 11.0 rebounds a game, which tops the Big 12.

His return, along with the strong play of Darrion Williams (16.5 ppg) and Chance McMillian (16.4), is strong cause for optimism. Texas Tech enters league play as the Big 12’s best shooting team from the floor (51.7 percent) and free-throw line (79.4 percent), while ranking third with 18.4 assists, scoring (86.3 points a game) and points allowed (63.3).

“It’s a year where I feel like the Big 12 is open and anyone can win the league,” McCasland said. “There are a lot of teams that have put themselves in good positions in nonconference play, but it’s now 0-0 and a new season. There’s an urgency with everybody. … Our guys understand that every possession matters and that in the Big 12 that’s always the case.”

–Field Level Media