BREAKING: The No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders delivered a crushing defeat to the Colorado Buffaloes, winning 78-44 on February 15, 2023, at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. This latest loss marks Colorado’s 12th consecutive defeat against ranked opponents and their 24th straight loss in true road games against AP Top 25 teams.
In a game that started with promise for the Buffaloes, they found themselves trailing by as much as 16 points in the first half. Freshman Ian Inman sparked a brief hope for Colorado by sinking four consecutive 3-pointers, narrowing the gap to eight points with just under four minutes remaining in the first half. However, a key offensive rebound by Texas Tech’s LeJuan Watts led to a 3-pointer from Jaylen Petty, igniting a devastating 12-3 run that put the Red Raiders ahead 39-22 at halftime.
After the break, Texas Tech wasted no time extending their lead, launching an 11-1 run that left Colorado scoreless for nearly five minutes. The Red Raiders dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Buffaloes 47-30 and converting 17 offensive rebounds into a staggering 21-0 advantage in second-chance points.
Texas Tech forward JT Toppin shined with his Big 12-leading 15th double-double, registering 16 points and 18 rebounds. Inman finished the night with a season-high 12 points, shooting an impressive 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, but the rest of the Buffaloes struggled, hitting only 2-for-20 from long range and finishing with a dismal shooting percentage of .291 overall.
With this loss, Colorado (14-11, 4-8 Big 12) faces another daunting challenge as they prepare to take on No. 22 BYU on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT, broadcasted on Fox Sports 1. As the pressure mounts, the Buffaloes will need to regroup quickly to break their streak of disappointing performances against ranked teams.
This defeat serves as a stark reminder of the struggles facing Colorado this season, as they continue to seek answers on the road against formidable opponents. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if they can turn things around before the postseason approaches.
