Texas Tech Hosts West Virginia in Pivotal Basketball Showdown

LUBBOCK, Texas — The No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders will face the West Virginia Mountaineers in a critical Big 12 matchup at noon on Saturday, February 22. This game, taking place at United Supermarkets Arena, marks the only regular-season encounter between the two teams this year.

Currently boasting a record of 20-6 overall and 11-4 in Big 12 play, the Red Raiders are looking to build momentum after a tough 69-66 loss to TCU earlier this week. Meanwhile, West Virginia enters the game 16-10 with a 7-8 Big 12 record.

The Red Raiders have claimed victory in eight of their last ten games and hold a strong 13-2 home record this season. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with local radio coverage provided by the Texas Tech Sports Network.

“Every game in this league is critical,” said Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland. “We need to bring our edge to the court, especially against a capable opponent like West Virginia, which is having a solid season.”

Saturday’s contest doubles as Senior Day for Texas Tech, honoring six student managers before tip-off. Key players to watch include Texas Tech’s leading scorer, Julian Toppin, who has been named the Associated Press National Player of the Week recently for his outstanding performances. Toppin is averaging 17.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Texas Tech’s offensive prowess has been highlighted by impressive statistics this season. The team leads the Big 12, averaging 81.8 points per game and maintaining a 1.59 assist-to-turnover ratio. Coach McCasland’s squad excels in shooting as they rank second in the conference, hitting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.

On the other side, West Virginia has been strong defensively, ranking among the top teams in the Big 12 for limiting opponent shooting percentages, particularly from 3-point territory, where they allow just 28.9 percent.

“We are focused on executing our game plan while being physical without fouling,” McCasland added. “Both aspects will play a crucial role in the outcome against West Virginia.”

In their last meeting, the Red Raiders managed an 81-70 win over the Mountaineers in Morgantown last season, but West Virginia holds the overall series advantage at 18-10. The Mountaineers have achieved six out of 11 victories in matchups held in Lubbock.

As the Red Raiders gear up for this crucial game, the atmosphere promises to be electric with an anticipated sell-out crowd supporting Texas Tech, which has averaged 12,673 fans this season. Following the game against West Virginia, Texas Tech prepares for a challenging match against No. 5 Houston on Big Monday.

“It’s vital that we fill this arena and make it a tough place for any opponent,” said McCasland. “We want the game against West Virginia to be a memorable occasion for our seniors and for our fans.”