- Caleb Love dominates with 27 points and clutch plays
- Texas Tech missing three starters: McMillian (injury), Williams (boot), Toppin (illness)
- Wildcats shoot 51% from field, 50% from three-point range
- 7-footer Henri Veesaar scores 8 critical points in final minutes
- Arizona to face No. 2 Houston in championship showdown
In a game defined by grit and attrition, the Arizona Wildcats exploited Texas Tech's depleted roster to secure an 86-80 victory in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals. Caleb Love delivered a masterclass performance with 27 points, showcasing why NBA scouts consider him a potential second-round draft pick. The Wildcats’ offensive efficiency – converting 50% of field goals and three-pointers – proved insurmountable for a Red Raiders squad missing 28.5 combined points per game from injured stars.
The injury dominoes began falling hours before tipoff when Texas Tech announced Chance McMillian would sit with an upper body strain, followed by Darrion Williams watching from the bench in a walking boot. The crisis deepened when All-Big 12 forward JT Toppin battled through illness that left him vomiting in arena tunnels pre-game. By the second half, point guard Elijah Hawkins’ fourth foul left coach Grant McCasland scrambling with a paper-thin bench.
While Arizona’s starters shined, their bench depth became the X-factor. Henri Veesaar’s late-game heroics – including back-to-back baskets to quash Texas Tech’s 78-74 comeback bid – underscored a critical tournament truth: surviving March requires secondary contributors. This mirrors 2023’s Sweet 16 clash where UConn’s bench outscored Arkansas’ reserves 28-2, a disparity that often decides elimination games.
Texas Tech’s resilience deserves recognition. Kevin Overton (20 points) and Christian Anderson (19 points) nearly engineered an improbable rally despite the roster chaos. However, as seen in Purdue’s 2023 NCAA Tournament collapse against Fairleigh Dickinson, short-handed teams rarely overcome top-tier opponents. The Wildcats’ strategic targeting of Hawkins – drawing his fourth foul early in the second half – exemplified savvy tournament tactics.
Looking ahead, Arizona faces a monumental challenge against No. 2 Houston’s top-ranked defense. The Cougars allow just 57.3 points per game, setting up a clash of styles. For Texas Tech, this loss likely won’t impact their NCAA Tournament seeding, but it exposes vulnerabilities in roster depth – a lesson for all programs navigating March’s brutal demands.