JT Toppin scored 25 points on 10-of-11 shooting as Texas Tech rolled to an 86-65 victory over Northwestern State on Friday in Lubbock, Texas.
Kevin Overton contributed 19 points off the bench and Chance McMillian added 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals as the Red Raiders (2-0) improved to 8-0 all-time against the Southland Conference school.
With Texas Tech point guards Elijah Hawkins and Christian Anderson sidelined by lower-body injuries, Darrion Williams took over playmaking duties and delivered eight points, eight rebounds and a career-high 11 assists.
The Red Raiders limited the Demons to 37.3 percent shooting and forced 12 turnovers. Meanwhile, Texas Tech hit 50.9 percent of its shots and committed nine turnovers.
Toppin, a 6-foot-9 transfer from New Mexico, led Texas Tech to a 42-16 edge on points in the paint.
Coastal Carolina transfer Jon Sanders scored 18 points off the bench to pace Northwestern State (1-1), which got more points from its reserves (40) than from its starters (25).
In the opening minute, Kerwin Walton drained a 3-pointer to give the Red Raiders a lead they would not relinquish.
Later, Walton culminated a nine-point run with another trey that put Texas Tech up 21-9.
Walton, who had seven 3-pointers in the Red Raiders’ opener, added three more on Friday on his way to scoring 11 points.
The teams traded baskets through much of the rest of the first half. A buzzer-beating tip-in by Northwestern State’s J.C. Riley cut Texas Tech’s lead to 42-28 at the break.
Texas Tech stretched its lead to 20 points early in the second half as Overton started a 9-2 run with a 3-pointer and finished it with a traditional three-point-play to make it 55-35.
The Texas Tech offense stalled late as the Red Raiders missed seven straight field goals. Northwestern State cut the deficit to 11 points before Toppin broke the dry spell with two layups, which made it 79-63 with 2:45 left.
–Field Level Media
