UPDATE: No. 16 Texas Tech crushed the CU Buffs with a commanding score of 78-44 in Lubbock, Texas, earlier today. This defeat marks the Buffs’ 12th consecutive loss against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, underscoring their struggles on the road.
The game took place at United Supermarkets Arena, where Texas Tech (18-6, 8-3 Big 12) quickly established dominance, leading by as much as 16 points in the first half. Despite a spark from freshman Ian Inman, who scored four straight 3-pointers to reduce the deficit to eight points, the Buffs were unable to maintain momentum. A critical offensive rebound by LeJuan Watts led to a pivotal 3-pointer by Jaylen Petty, igniting a 12-3 run that saw Texas Tech take a commanding 39-22 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Texas Tech continued to assert its authority, starting with an 11-1 run that left the Buffs scoreless for the first 4 minutes, 54 seconds. The Red Raiders dominated the boards, out-rebounding Colorado 47-30 and converting 17 offensive rebounds into a staggering 21-0 advantage in second-chance points.
Texas Tech’s JT Toppin notched his Big 12-leading 15th double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds. On the other hand, Inman finished strong for the Buffs with a season-high 12 points on four 3-pointers, but the rest of the team struggled, shooting only 2-for-20 from beyond the arc and a season-low .291 overall.
With this defeat, the CU Buffs (14-11, 4-8 Big 12) are set for another challenging road game against No. 22 BYU on February 18, 2023, at 2 p.m. MT, as they search for redemption and an end to their road woes. Fans and analysts alike are left wondering if the Buffs can turn things around or if their struggles will continue in this pivotal matchup.
