CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (NEWS RELEASE FROM TTU ATHLETICS) - No. 11 Texas Tech fought back from a 13-point halftime deficit but couldn’t pull out the comeback in an 81-77 loss at No. 14 Illinois on Tuesday at the State Farm Center. JT Toppin led the Red Raiders (2-1) with 35 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots to record his fifth career double-double scoring over 30 points. He finished with 24 points in a second half where he shot 12-for-14 from the field and helped Tech get back into the game that went down to the wire.

LeJuan Watts scored 21 points in the game, including hitting a pair of free throws on a flagrant foul call to cut the score to 80-77 with 12.5 seconds remaining before Illinois (3-0) iced the game with a pair of free throws from Keaton Waglar. Watts had 16 of his 21 po

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