ARIZ

TXTECH

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Love helps Arizona topple short-handed No. 9 Texas Tech 86-80 in Big 12 tourney semifinals

AP
Mar 15, 2025

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Caleb Love scored 27 points and Arizona took advantage of injuries that left Texas Tech short-handed for an 86-80 victory over the No. 9 Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals Friday night.

KJ Lewis added 15 points and Henri Veesaar scored eight of his 10 in the closing minutes for the Wildcats (22-11), who advanced to the championship game against No. 2 Houston on Saturday night in their first season in their new league.

Kevin Overton had 20 points and Christian Anderson scored 19 for the Red Raiders (25-8), who played without Chance McMillian and Darrion Williams because of injuries, and then watched star forward JT Toppin throw up in the arena tunnel.

Toppin made it through the game, but the All-Big 12 forward managed just 11 points in 25 minutes.

Compounding problems short-handed Texas Tech, point guard Elijah Hawkins picked up his fourth foul with 14:56 to go, leaving coach Grant McCasland with precious few options on his bench in the second half.

The Red Raiders trailed by as much as 14 before nevertheless mounting a comeback, closing to 78-74 on two free throws by Anderson with 2:40 to go. Veesaar answered with back-to-back baskets and Arizona held on from there.

Arizona: The Wildcats were 8 of 16 from beyond the 3-point arc and shot 51% from the field overall.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders couldn't overcome the fact that their three leading scorers were ill or absent. McMillian missed the second half of its quarterfinal win with what the school called an “upper body strain,” while Williams was wearing a walking boot on his right foot after he appeared to aggravate an injury that has bothered him the last few weeks against the Bears.

Veesaar was quiet until the closing minutes, when the 7-footer made a series of big baskets.

The Red Raiders were missing a combined 28.5 points per game with McMillian and Williams unavailable.

Arizona will play Houston for the Big 12 Tournament title.

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1st Half
ARIZ
Wildcats
47
TXTCH
Red Raiders
39

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Red Raiders gains possession)
19:35		Tobe Awaka blocks JT Toppin's two point jump shot
19:34		JT Toppin offensive rebound
19:34		Tobe Awaka shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
19:34		JT Toppin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:34		JT Toppin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:34		Tobe Awaka defensive rebound
19:32		Federiko Federiko personal foul
19:22	+3	Caleb Love makes three point jump shot	3-0
18:48		Elijah Hawkins misses two point jump shot
18:46		Caleb Love defensive rebound
18:37		Federiko Federiko personal foul
18:22	+2	Caleb Love makes two point jump shot	5-0
18:02		Tobe Awaka shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
18:02		JT Toppin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:02		JT Toppin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:02		Trey Townsend defensive rebound
17:42		Caleb Love turnover (bad pass) (JT Toppin steals)
17:37		Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
17:35		Kerwin Walton offensive rebound
17:30		Kerwin Walton turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Bradley steals)
17:25		Grant McCasland technical foul
17:25	+1	Caleb Love makes technical free throw 1 of 2	6-0
17:25	+1	Caleb Love makes technical free throw 2 of 2	7-0
17:09	+2	Henri Veesaar makes two point layup (Jaden Bradley assists)	9-0
16:56	+3	Elijah Hawkins makes three point jump shot	9-3
16:32	+2	Trey Townsend makes two point layup	11-3
16:12		Jaden Bradley shooting foul (Kerwin Walton draws the foul)
16:12	+1	Kerwin Walton makes regular free throw 1 of 3	11-4
16:12	+1	Kerwin Walton makes regular free throw 2 of 3	11-5
16:12	+1	Kerwin Walton makes regular free throw 3 of 3	11-6
15:54		Trey Townsend misses three point jump shot
15:54		JT Toppin defensive rebound
15:54		Henri Veesaar personal foul
15:54		TV timeout
15:28		Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
15:26		KJ Lewis defensive rebound
15:19		KJ Lewis turnover (lost ball) (Elijah Hawkins steals)
15:12		KJ Lewis blocks JT Toppin's two point jump shot
15:10		KJ Lewis defensive rebound
15:02	+3	Caleb Love makes three point jump shot	14-6
14:48	+3	Christian Anderson makes three point jump shot	14-9
14:32		KJ Lewis offensive foul
14:32		KJ Lewis turnover (offensive foul)
14:19	+2	Christian Anderson makes two point layup	14-11
14:02		Elijah Hawkins personal foul
13:58	+3	Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Henri Veesaar assists)	17-11
13:36		JT Toppin misses two point jump shot
13:34		Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
13:33		Henri Veesaar turnover (lost ball) (JT Toppin steals)
13:28	+2	JT Toppin makes two point layup	17-13
13:25		Kerwin Walton shooting foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul)
13:25	+1	KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-13
13:25	+1	KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-13
13:12	+3	Kevin Overton makes three point jump shot (JT Toppin assists)	19-16
12:59		Carter Bryant misses three point jump shot
12:57		Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
12:49		Elijah Hawkins misses two point jump shot
12:47		Carter Bryant defensive rebound
12:36		Caleb Love misses three point jump shot
12:34		Trey Townsend offensive rebound
12:26		Leon Horner blocks KJ Lewis's two point jump shot
12:24		Red Raiders defensive rebound
12:06	+3	Christian Anderson makes three point jump shot (Kevin Overton assists)	19-19
11:40		Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot
11:38		Christian Anderson defensive rebound
11:33	+3	Kevin Overton makes three point jump shot (Elijah Hawkins assists)	19-22
11:12		Elijah Hawkins shooting foul (Jaden Bradley draws the foul)
11:12		TV timeout
11:12	+1	Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	20-22
11:12	+1	Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-22
11:02	+2	JT Toppin makes two point jump shot	21-24
10:37	+2	Caleb Love makes two point jump shot	23-24
10:19		Caleb Love shooting foul (Kevin Overton draws the foul)
10:19		Kevin Overton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:19	+1	Kevin Overton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-25
9:54		Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot
9:52		Henri Veesaar offensive rebound
9:50		Henri Veesaar turnover (lost ball) (Leon Horner steals)
9:34		JT Toppin misses three point jump shot
9:32		Jaden Bradley defensive rebound
9:19	+2	Trey Townsend makes two point layup (Henri Veesaar assists)	25-25
9:16		Red Raiders 30 second timeout
8:55		Elijah Hawkins misses three point jump shot
8:53		Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
8:40		Trey Townsend misses two point jump shot
8:38		Leon Horner defensive rebound
8:25		Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
8:23		KJ Lewis defensive rebound
8:18	+2	Jaden Bradley makes two point layup (KJ Lewis assists)	27-25
7:48	+2	Federiko Federiko makes two point layup (Kerwin Walton assists)	27-27
7:48		Trey Townsend shooting foul (Federiko Federiko draws the foul)
7:48		TV timeout
7:48	+1	Federiko Federiko makes regular free throw 1 of 1	27-28
7:25		Henri Veesaar misses two point layup
7:23		Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
7:18		Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
7:16		KJ Lewis defensive rebound
7:03	+2	KJ Lewis makes two point jump shot	29-28
6:44		Kevin Overton misses three point jump shot
6:42		Federiko Federiko offensive rebound
6:35		KJ Lewis blocks Elijah Hawkins's three point jump shot
6:33		Federiko Federiko offensive rebound
6:32		Carter Bryant personal foul (Federiko Federiko draws the foul)
6:32	+1	Federiko Federiko makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-29
6:32	+1	Federiko Federiko makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-30
6:10	+2	KJ Lewis makes two point jump shot	31-30
5:49	+2	Kevin Overton makes two point layup	31-32
5:26		Caleb Love misses two point jump shot
5:25		Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
5:09		Carter Bryant blocks Kevin Overton's two point layup
5:07		Red Raiders offensive rebound
4:57		Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
4:55		Wildcats defensive rebound
4:40	+2	Caleb Love makes two point jump shot (KJ Lewis assists)	33-32
4:20		Caleb Love personal foul
4:20	+1	Christian Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-33
4:20	+1	Christian Anderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-34
4:08	+2	KJ Lewis makes two point layup	35-34
3:45		Kevin Overton misses two point jump shot
3:43		Kerwin Walton offensive rebound
3:39		Elijah Hawkins misses three point jump shot
3:35		Trey Townsend defensive rebound
3:34		Wildcats 30 second timeout
3:34		TV timeout
3:22	+3	Carter Bryant makes three point jump shot (KJ Lewis assists)	38-34
3:06		Kevin Overton misses two point jump shot
3:04		Kevin Overton offensive rebound
2:58		Carter Bryant shooting foul (Christian Anderson draws the foul)
2:58	+1	Christian Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-35
2:58		Christian Anderson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:58		JT Toppin offensive rebound
2:46		Kevin Overton misses three point jump shot
2:44		KJ Lewis defensive rebound
2:40		KJ Lewis turnover (bad pass) (Elijah Hawkins steals)
2:35		Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
2:33		Kerwin Walton offensive rebound
2:22		Elijah Hawkins misses three point jump shot
2:20		Trey Townsend defensive rebound
2:01		Elijah Hawkins personal foul (Trey Townsend draws the foul)
2:01	+1	Trey Townsend makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-35
2:01	+1	Trey Townsend makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-35
1:47		Jaden Bradley shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
1:47	+1	JT Toppin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-36
1:47	+1	JT Toppin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-37
1:34	+3	Anthony Dell'Orso makes three point jump shot (KJ Lewis assists)	43-37
1:20		Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
1:18		Red Raiders offensive rebound
1:15		Kerwin Walton turnover (bad pass) (Conrad Martinez steals)
1:12	+2	Conrad Martinez makes two point layup	45-37
0:52	+2	Kerwin Walton makes two point jump shot	45-39
0:22	+2	Trey Townsend makes two point jump shot	47-39
0:00		Christian Anderson misses two point jump shot
0:00		KJ Lewis defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
ARIZ
Wildcats
39
TXTCH
Red Raiders
41

Time		Play	Score
19:40		Kerwin Walton blocks Anthony Dell'Orso's two point jump shot
19:38		Anthony Dell'Orso offensive rebound
19:34		Jaden Bradley misses two point layup
19:32		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
19:30		Tobe Awaka turnover (traveling)
19:19		Elijah Hawkins turnover (bad pass)
19:09		Federiko Federiko personal foul (Tobe Awaka draws the foul)
19:07	+2	Trey Townsend makes two point layup (Jaden Bradley assists)	49-39
18:44	+2	Federiko Federiko makes two point alley-oop dunk (Elijah Hawkins assists)	49-41
18:25		Trey Townsend misses two point layup
18:23		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
18:21		JT Toppin blocks Tobe Awaka's two point layup
18:19		Tobe Awaka offensive rebound
18:16	+2	Tobe Awaka makes two point layup	51-41
17:56	+2	JT Toppin makes two point hook shot	51-43
17:41		Tobe Awaka misses two point jump shot
17:40		Wildcats offensive rebound
17:32	+3	Caleb Love makes three point jump shot	54-43
17:15		JT Toppin misses two point jump shot
17:13		Federiko Federiko offensive rebound
17:11		Christian Anderson misses two point jump shot
17:09		Anthony Dell'Orso defensive rebound
16:55	+3	Caleb Love makes three point jump shot	57-43
16:27		Trey Townsend personal foul (Christian Anderson draws the foul)
16:20		KJ Lewis blocks Elijah Hawkins's two point layup
16:18		Caleb Love defensive rebound
16:12		Caleb Love misses three point jump shot
16:10		Kevin Overton defensive rebound
16:08	+2	Kerwin Walton makes two point layup (Kevin Overton assists)	57-45
15:49		Henri Veesaar misses three point jump shot
15:47		Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
15:23	+3	Kerwin Walton makes three point jump shot (Christian Anderson assists)	57-48
15:06		KJ Lewis turnover (bad pass) (Kevin Overton steals)
15:01		Christian Anderson turnover (lost ball) (KJ Lewis steals)
14:56		Elijah Hawkins personal foul (Caleb Love draws the foul)
14:56		TV timeout
14:34		Federiko Federiko blocks KJ Lewis's two point layup
14:32		Kevin Overton defensive rebound
14:07		JT Toppin misses three point jump shot
14:05		Caleb Love defensive rebound
13:48		KJ Lewis misses three point jump shot
13:44		Red Raiders defensive rebound
13:28		Kevin Overton misses two point jump shot
13:26		KJ Lewis defensive rebound
13:20	+2	Carter Bryant makes two point layup (KJ Lewis assists)	59-48
13:18		Red Raiders 30 second timeout
13:18		TV timeout
13:00		JT Toppin turnover (lost ball) (Carter Bryant steals)
12:52		JT Toppin personal foul
12:46		Caleb Love misses two point jump shot
12:44		Kevin Overton defensive rebound
12:37	+2	Christian Anderson makes two point jump shot (JT Toppin assists)	59-50
12:17	+3	Jaden Bradley makes three point jump shot (KJ Lewis assists)	62-50
11:58		Tobe Awaka personal foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
11:58		TV timeout
11:56		Caleb Love personal foul (Kevin Overton draws the foul)
11:45		Tobe Awaka personal foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
11:35		JT Toppin misses two point layup
11:33		JT Toppin offensive rebound
11:30		JT Toppin misses two point layup
11:28		JT Toppin offensive rebound
11:27		JT Toppin misses two point layup
11:26		Federiko Federiko offensive rebound
11:26		Carter Bryant shooting foul (Federiko Federiko draws the foul)
11:26		Federiko Federiko misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:26		Federiko Federiko misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:26		Carter Bryant defensive rebound
11:15		KJ Lewis misses two point layup
11:13		Henri Veesaar offensive rebound
11:09		JT Toppin blocks Henri Veesaar's two point layup
11:07		Christian Anderson defensive rebound
10:48	+2	Kevin Overton makes two point layup	62-52
10:42	+2	Caleb Love makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jaden Bradley assists)	64-52
10:24	+2	JT Toppin makes two point hook shot	64-54
9:58		Caleb Love misses three point jump shot
9:56		Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
9:50	+2	Kevin Overton makes two point alley-oop layup (Elijah Hawkins assists)	64-56
9:36		Wildcats 30 second timeout
9:18		Trey Townsend misses two point jump shot
9:16		Kerwin Walton defensive rebound
9:10	+3	Kevin Overton makes three point jump shot (Christian Anderson assists)	64-59
8:38		Caleb Love turnover (lost ball)
8:24		Kevin Overton misses three point jump shot
8:22		Henri Veesaar defensive rebound
8:11		KJ Lewis misses two point jump shot
8:09		Trey Townsend offensive rebound
8:07		Kevin Overton shooting foul (Trey Townsend draws the foul)
8:07	+1	Trey Townsend makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-59
8:07	+1	Trey Townsend makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-59
7:54	+2	Christian Anderson makes two point jump shot	66-61
7:32		KJ Lewis misses three point jump shot
7:30		Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
7:23		Kerwin Walton turnover (bad pass) (KJ Lewis steals)
7:19		Christian Anderson shooting foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul)
7:19		TV timeout
7:19	+1	KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-61
7:19	+1	KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-61
7:08		Henri Veesaar personal foul
6:50	+2	Elijah Hawkins makes two point layup	68-63
6:35	+2	KJ Lewis makes two point jump shot	70-63
6:14	+3	Kevin Overton makes three point jump shot (Elijah Hawkins assists)	70-66
5:44	+2	Jaden Bradley makes two point jump shot	72-66
5:19		Elijah Hawkins turnover (bad pass) (Henri Veesaar steals)
5:15		Kevin Overton personal foul (Carter Bryant draws the foul)
5:15		Red Raiders 60 second timeout
5:08	+2	Henri Veesaar makes two point layup (Carter Bryant assists)	74-66
5:08		JT Toppin shooting foul (Henri Veesaar draws the foul)
5:08		Henri Veesaar misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:08		Kevin Overton defensive rebound
4:46		Jaden Bradley personal foul (Elijah Hawkins draws the foul)
4:46	+1	Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-67
4:46		Elijah Hawkins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:46		Carter Bryant defensive rebound
4:25		KJ Lewis misses two point jump shot
4:23		Federiko Federiko defensive rebound
4:22		Henri Veesaar personal foul (Federiko Federiko draws the foul)
4:22	+1	Federiko Federiko makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-68
4:22	+1	Federiko Federiko makes regular free throw 2 of 2	74-69
4:09		Henri Veesaar misses two point layup
4:07		Carter Bryant offensive rebound
4:07		Kerwin Walton personal foul (Carter Bryant draws the foul)
4:07		Carter Bryant misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:07		KJ Lewis offensive rebound
4:04		KJ Lewis misses two point layup
4:02		Federiko Federiko defensive rebound
3:54		Elijah Hawkins misses three point jump shot
3:52		Carter Bryant defensive rebound
3:33		Jaden Bradley misses two point jump shot
3:31		Henri Veesaar offensive rebound
3:29	+2	Henri Veesaar makes two point layup	76-69
3:16	+3	Kerwin Walton makes three point jump shot (Elijah Hawkins assists)	76-72
2:51	+2	Caleb Love makes two point jump shot	78-72
2:49		Wildcats 30 second timeout
2:49		TV timeout
2:40		Jaden Bradley personal foul (Christian Anderson draws the foul)
2:40	+1	Christian Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	78-73
2:40	+1	Christian Anderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	78-74
2:18	+2	Henri Veesaar makes two point layup (Caleb Love assists)	80-74
1:55		Elijah Hawkins misses three point jump shot
1:53		Caleb Love defensive rebound
1:34		Jaden Bradley misses two point layup
1:32		Henri Veesaar offensive rebound
1:30	+2	Henri Veesaar makes two point dunk	82-74
1:24		Red Raiders 30 second timeout
1:18	+2	Christian Anderson makes two point layup (Kevin Overton assists)	82-76
0:48		Christian Anderson personal foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul)
0:48		KJ Lewis misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:48		Kevin Overton defensive rebound
0:47		Carter Bryant personal foul (Kevin Overton draws the foul)
0:47		Kevin Overton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:47	+1	Kevin Overton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	82-77
0:42		Kevin Overton personal foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul)
0:42	+1	KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	83-77
0:42	+1	KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-77
0:34		Carter Bryant shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
0:34		JT Toppin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:34	+1	JT Toppin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-78
0:32		Christian Anderson personal foul (Jaden Bradley draws the foul)
0:32	+1	Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	85-78
0:32		Jaden Bradley misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:32		JT Toppin defensive rebound
0:23	+2	Elijah Hawkins makes two point layup	85-80
0:16		Kevin Overton personal foul (KJ Lewis draws the foul)
0:16		KJ Lewis misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:16	+1	KJ Lewis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	86-80
0:08		Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
0:06		Caleb Love defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Caleb Love defensive rebound