The energy inside Desert Financial Arena on Tuesday night was electric as the Arizona State Sun Devils pulled off a 72-67 upset over the No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders, delivering their most significant win since joining the Big 12. The victory, which saw fans storm the court in celebration, was a testament to the Sun Devils’ resilience, defensive grit, and timely execution—especially in the face of adversity and overwhelming odds.
Heading into the matchup, few gave Arizona State (14-12, 5-8 Big 12) much of a chance. Texas Tech (19-7, 9-4) came in as an 8.5-point favorite, boasting recent wins over top-ranked teams and featuring the formidable duo of Big 12 Player of the Year frontrunner JT Toppin and Christian Anderson. Most predictions, including those from ESPN and Dimers, gave the Red Raiders a 75-80% probability of victory. Even the betting lines reflected the skepticism: the Red Raiders were -360 on the moneyline, while the Sun Devils sat at +285, with the over/under set at an ambitious 154.5 points.
But the Sun Devils had other plans. From the opening tip, ASU’s press defense set the tone, disrupting Texas Tech’s rhythm and forcing a flurry of turnovers. Early in the contest, Noah Meeusen’s no-look pass to Massamba Diop for the team’s first points signaled that the home squad was playing with confidence and flair. Meeusen found Diop again on a lob in transition, and Diop would finish with a strong 14-point performance, anchoring ASU’s interior presence.
Trevor Best, returning to action after nearly a month, played a pivotal role atop the Sun Devils’ press. His defensive tenacity helped Arizona State force a season-high 17 turnovers from the Red Raiders, including a staggering seven from Anderson and four from Toppin. The Red Raiders, who had averaged more than 41 points per game combined from their star duo, were held to 38 points between them—a testament to ASU’s relentless pressure and tactical discipline.
The first half saw Texas Tech mount a 19-8 run that looked to seize control, but Arizona State responded with a crucial 8-0 burst of their own to close the half. Diop’s three-pointer at the buzzer sent the Sun Devils into the locker room with a 37-36 lead, a momentum swing that would carry into the second period.
As the second half unfolded, the game turned into a seesaw battle. Arizona State’s Maurice Odum emerged as the star of the night, leading all scorers with 23 points on just 12 shots. Odum’s knack for delivering in big moments was on full display: he drilled a three-pointer to fuel a decisive 10-0 run and drew a foul on a deep shot on the very next possession, echoing his first-half heroics. When the Red Raiders threatened late, Odum’s steady hand at the free-throw line helped seal the deal.
“I ain’t gonna lie, it meant a lot. I never beat Gonzaga, and I never beat Saint Mary’s… so I had to storm the court this year,” Odum said with a smile after the game, referencing his previous years playing in the WAC. “I’ve dreamed of this, so I’m just so happy we could finally get one. Hopefully, we get more.”
But the victory did not come without drama. With just over six minutes left, Texas Tech’s JT Toppin—who had already tallied 20 points and eight rebounds—went down awkwardly near the baseline, clutching his right knee. The arena fell silent as the Red Raiders’ star was helped off the court by head coach Grant McCasland and a trainer, putting little weight on his injured leg. The loss of Toppin, who has averaged 21.9 points and 11.0 rebounds this season, dealt a major blow to Texas Tech’s comeback hopes.
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley was quick to express his concern for Toppin in the postgame press conference. “I don’t know what the status is for JT Toppin, but immediately, the first thing I was thinking about is I hope he’s OK. Hate to see a guy go out of a game like that,” Hurley said. “He’s one of the best players in the country.”
Despite the setback, Texas Tech mounted a furious rally. The Red Raiders went on an 8-0 run in the final minutes, cutting the deficit to just two points. With 8.5 seconds remaining, Donovan Atwell had a chance to tie the game at the free-throw line but missed the first of a one-and-one. Arizona State broke the ensuing press, and Pig Johnson calmly hit a free throw to stretch the lead to three. On the next possession, Texas Tech turned the ball over, and Odum iced the game with two more from the stripe.
“You beat a team like that, you gotta feel like if you play the way you’ve been playing that you can compete with any team,” Hurley remarked after the game. “We had done it at Arizona being in a one-possession game inside a minute, but to be able to close the team out and get the win, that’s a separator and hopefully the guys build off that as we hit the road.”
The win was even more impressive considering ASU’s depleted roster. The Sun Devils were without starting shooting guard Bryce Ford (groin/hip flexor), leaving just eight players available. Andrija Grbovic, a game-time decision, managed to contribute, but the team’s depth was tested all night. Nevertheless, the Sun Devils’ collective effort—highlighted by Pig Johnson’s late-game poise and a crowd-lifting moment when he picked up a young fan to protect him during the court storm—showed the heart and unity of this group.
For Texas Tech, the loss snapped a run of strong form that included a recent win over No. 1 Arizona. The Red Raiders’ struggles with turnovers and the absence of Toppin in crunch time proved too much to overcome, despite Christian Anderson’s late-game push to keep them within striking distance.
As the final buzzer sounded, Arizona State fans flooded the court, hoisting Odum above the crowd in a jubilant celebration. The Sun Devils’ back-to-back Big 12 wins mark a turning point for Bobby Hurley’s squad, who now face a stretch of three unranked opponents before closing the regular season against top-10 foes Kansas and Iowa State.
With their signature win in hand and momentum on their side, the Sun Devils have given their faithful plenty to cheer about—and perhaps, just maybe, a reason to believe that more surprises await down the stretch.