The No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to face off against the Arizona State Sun Devils in a crucial regular-season finale on Saturday, with significant Big 12 seeding implications on the line. The Red Raiders, who have already secured a top-three seed and a double-bye in the upcoming Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, can lock up the No. 2 seed with a win over the Sun Devils.
Texas Tech (23-7, 14-5 Big 12) is looking to build on its impressive 91-75 win over Colorado on Wednesday, which saw the team match the program record for 3-pointers made with 16. The Red Raiders have been on fire from beyond the arc, ranking second in the Big 12 with 10.1 3-pointers made per game and shooting 37.9 percent from 3-point range.
The Sun Devils (13-17, 4-15 Big 12), on the other hand, are looking to snap a three-game losing streak and finish the regular season on a high note. Arizona State has been led by Alston Mason, who is averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 39.4 percent on 3-pointers.
The Red Raiders and Sun Devils previously met on February 12 in Lubbock, with Texas Tech emerging victorious in a thrilling 111-106 double-overtime win. JT Toppin led the Red Raiders with 41 points and 15 rebounds, while Darrion Williams added 27 points.
“We know what they’re capable of, and they have our full attention,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “Coach Hurley is doing a tremendous job keeping their team together with some crazy injuries. They are not backing down.”
With the Big 12 Championship seeding on the line, the Red Raiders are expected to come out strong and focused against the Sun Devils. A win would not only secure the No. 2 seed but also provide a significant momentum boost heading into the conference tournament.
The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. (CST) on Saturday at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona, and will be broadcast on ESPNU. The Texas Tech Sports Network radio call can be heard locally on Double T 97.3 and on the Varsity app.
