STAR CITY, W.Va. (Interstat) — A blistering first-half shooting display from beyond the arc and a dominant performance from JT Toppin propelled Texas Tech to a 70-63 victory over West Virginia in a pivotal Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at a sold-out WVU Coliseum.

The Red Raiders, snapping a two-game skid, built a commanding 12-point halftime lead by hitting 9 of 13 three-pointers before intermission. That sharp-shooting, combined with a profound struggle from deep by the Mountaineers, proved to be the decisive factor in a game where offensive execution was otherwise scarce. West Virginia finished a dismal 2 for 22 from three-point range, a crippling statistic in a seven-point loss.

Texas Tech improved to 17-6 overall and in the conference, while West Virginia fell to 15-9.

The most critical stretch of the game arrived early, as Texas Tech seized immediate control. After a slow start for both sides, the Red Raiders erupted. Donovan Atwell connected on a three-pointer just 49 seconds in, sparking a 16-2 run over the next five minutes. Christian Anderson and LeJuan Watts added triples during the surge, and when Atwell drilled another three at the 17:02 mark, the Red Raiders led 9-1, forcing an early West Virginia timeout.

The Mountaineers, plagued by turnovers and cold shooting, could not mount a response. Texas Tech’s lead ballooned to 18-5 after another Anderson three-pointer and a thunderous JT Toppin dunk. West Virginia’s offense, reliant on drives and post play from Brenen Lorient and Jasper Floyd, could not keep pace with the Red Raiders’ perimeter barrage. A late first-half three from Jaylen Petty extended the Texas Tech advantage to 39-27 at the break.

West Virginia emerged from halftime with renewed energy, opening the second period with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 39-35. Floyd and Lorient scored inside, and the Mountaineers’ defense generated stops, sending a charge through the crowd of 12,009.

The Red Raiders’ response was swift and emphatic. Toppin, who had been quiet offensively in the first half, took over. He assisted on a Petty three-pointer to halt the run, then answered a West Virginia free throw with a three of his own. After a Mountaineer turnover, Toppin found Atwell for another three, pushing the lead back to 48-37 and forcing another West Virginia timeout just over four minutes into the half.

From there, Toppin imposed his will. The 6-foot-9 forward from Dallas scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, showcasing a versatile arsenal with a three-pointer, a driving floater, and powerful finishes at the rim. His dunk with 4:26 remaining gave Texas Tech a 62-50 lead, its largest of the half, and effectively sealed the game.

West Virginia made one final push, closing to within 66-60 after a Lorient layup with 54 seconds left. But the Mountaineers could get no closer, as Texas Tech converted four crucial free throws in the final minute to secure the road win.

Toppin’s 22-point, 9-rebound effort anchored the Red Raiders. He added two assists, a block, and a steal. Christian Anderson orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 11 assists against only three turnovers while adding 13 points. Donovan Atwell scored 15 points, all on three-pointers, and Jaylen Petty contributed 11.

For West Virginia, Brenen Lorient led the way with 21 points and five rebounds. Jasper Floyd added 10 points and four rebounds, while 7-foot center Harlan Obioha battled inside for nine points and seven rebounds. However, the team’s backcourt combination of Honor Huff and Treysen Eaglestaff combined to shoot 0 for 14 from three-point range.

Texas Tech finished the game 13 of 24 from three-point range, a 54.2% clip, while West Virginia’s 9.1% shooting from deep represented a catastrophic failure. The Red Raiders also won the efficiency battle, posting an offensive rating of 112.6 points per 100 possessions compared to West Virginia’s 95.6, despite committing three more turnovers.

The victory provides Texas Tech crucial momentum as it heads into the final stretch of the conference schedule, while West Virginia must quickly rectify its perimeter shooting woes to stay in the hunt for a high seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament.