Williams, Toppin lead No. 3 seed Texas Tech into Sweet 16 with 77-64 victory over No. 11 seed Drake
AP
Mar 22, 2025
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Darrion Williams scored a season-high 28 points, JT Toppin had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 3 seed Texas Tech Red Raiders dominated No. 11 seed Drake Bulldogs in the paint on its way to a 77-64 victory Saturday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Elijah Hawkins added 16 points for the Red Raiders (27-8), who denied the Bulldogs their first Sweet 16 trip in more than five decades and will play No. 10 seed Arkansas in the West Region semifinals Thursday night in San Francisco.
“Our guys were so composed and so tough,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said, “and that was a huge part of the win.”
Bennett Stirtz scored 21 points and Daniel Abreu had 15 for the Bulldogs (31-4), who were outscored 50-20 inside by the bigger, stronger Red Raiders, and had their eight-game winning streak come to an end.
“They played a fantastic game,” said Drake coach Ben McCollum, one of McCasland's closest friends. “You kind of have to pick your poison with them, just because of the way we're built. We executed our game plan. Unfortunately, their two bigs dribbled down on us the whole game and made it very difficult on us.”
Texas Tech beat UNC Wilmington in the first round with a 3-point barrage, setting a tournament record with 46 attempts. But with the Bulldogs blanketing the Red Raiders' guards, McCasland chose to funnel the ball inside to Toppin, a second-team All-American, and Williams, who continued to play after he appeared to aggravate a right leg injury in the second half.
“We watched film and we knew we were going to have to beat them inside-out,” Toppin said.
He had 19 of his points on 9-of-10 shooting in the first half. Williams had 14 at the break. And the duo contributed all of the Red Raiders' points during a 13-2 first-half run that helped to send them into the locker room with a 37-30 lead.
It was almost as if Texas Tech knew exactly how to dismantle the nation's No. 2 scoring defense.
Maybe it learned during its scrimmage with Drake back in November.
“The reason we scrimmaged them," McCasland said, “we figured it would be the best test of how we could defend.”
Turns out, pretty well. The Red Raiders held Stirtz, an honorable mention All-American, to 9-for-19 shooting, and they did not allow sharpshooter Mitch Mascari to make a single field goal.
The Bulldogs were still within 43-38 early in the second half when McCollum earned a technical foul, and Hawkins went to the line for Texas Tech and hit four straight free throws. And while the Missouri Valley champions kept fighting the final 15 minutes, the Red Raiders - well, Williams and Toppin - were able to answer every basket to put them away.
Drake hopes it can keep McCollum in Des Moines, Iowa. The native of Iowa City - the home of the University of Iowa - is one of the leading contenders for the open job with the Hawkeyes.
Texas Tech survived the opening weekend without Chance McMillian, its third-leading scorer. The hope is that his upper-body injury is sufficiently healed to play in the Sweet 16.
The Red Raiders will play John Calipari's Razorbacks for a spot in the Elite Eight.
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1st Half
DRAKE
Bulldogs
30
TXTCH
Red Raiders
37
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Red Raiders gains possession)
19:45
JT Toppin turnover (bad pass) (Daniel Abreu steals)
19:25
+2
Bennett Stirtz makes two point jump shot (Cam Manyawu assists)
2-0
19:06
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point jump shot
2-2
18:36
Isaiah Jackson misses three point jump shot
18:34
Bulldogs offensive rebound
18:10
Daniel Abreu misses three point jump shot
18:08
JT Toppin defensive rebound
18:06
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup (Elijah Hawkins assists)
2-4
17:47
+3
Daniel Abreu makes three point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)
5-4
17:19
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point jump shot (Christian Anderson assists)
5-6
17:05
Bennett Stirtz misses three point jump shot
17:03
JT Toppin defensive rebound
16:52
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup (Darrion Williams assists)
5-8
16:21
+2
Isaiah Jackson makes two point jump shot
7-8
16:03
Daniel Abreu personal foul
15:52
JT Toppin misses two point layup
15:50
Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound
15:33
+2
Tavion Banks makes two point layup (Bennett Stirtz assists)
9-8
15:01
+2
Christian Anderson makes two point layup
9-10
14:40
+2
Tavion Banks makes two point jump shot (Mitch Mascari assists)
11-10
14:06
+2
JT Toppin makes two point jump shot
11-12
13:40
Tavion Banks misses two point jump shot
13:38
Kerwin Walton defensive rebound
13:13
Kevin Overton misses two point layup
13:11
Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
12:48
+2
Bennett Stirtz makes two point jump shot
13-12
12:23
Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
12:21
Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound
12:05
+3
Daniel Abreu makes three point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)
16-12
11:33
Isaiah Jackson personal foul
11:33
TV timeout
11:27
Kerwin Walton misses two point jump shot
11:25
Kael Combs defensive rebound
11:08
+2
Kael Combs makes two point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)
18-12
10:51
Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
10:49
Darrion Williams offensive rebound
10:49
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point layup
18-14
10:49
Isaia Howard shooting foul (Darrion Williams draws the foul)
10:49
+1
Darrion Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1
18-15
10:21
Mitch Mascari misses two point jump shot
10:19
Federiko Federiko defensive rebound
9:58
+3
Darrion Williams makes three point jump shot
18-18
9:30
Darrion Williams shooting foul
9:30
+1
Cam Manyawu makes regular free throw 1 of 2
19-18
9:30
+1
Cam Manyawu makes regular free throw 2 of 2
20-18
9:20
Tavion Banks blocks Darrion Williams's two point jump shot
9:18
Darrion Williams offensive rebound
9:13
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point layup
20-20
8:56
Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
8:54
Kevin Overton defensive rebound
8:46
+2
JT Toppin makes two point jump shot (Elijah Hawkins assists)
20-22
8:30
Kael Combs misses two point layup
8:28
JT Toppin defensive rebound
8:22
Elijah Hawkins misses two point jump shot
8:20
Tavion Banks defensive rebound
8:14
Elijah Hawkins personal foul
7:52
Daniel Abreu misses two point jump shot
7:50
JT Toppin defensive rebound
7:39
Tavion Banks shooting foul
7:39
TV timeout
7:39
JT Toppin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:39
+1
JT Toppin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
20-23
7:28
Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
7:26
JT Toppin defensive rebound
7:17
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup (Elijah Hawkins assists)
20-25
7:16
Bulldogs 30 second timeout
7:16
TV timeout
7:05
+2
Kael Combs makes two point jump shot
22-25
6:35
Kevin Overton misses two point jump shot
6:33
Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
6:22
Daniel Abreu turnover (traveling)
6:11
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup (Elijah Hawkins assists)
22-27
5:52
Kerwin Walton personal foul
5:42
+3
Kael Combs makes three point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)
25-27
5:14
+2
Elijah Hawkins makes two point layup
25-29
4:53
+2
Bennett Stirtz makes two point jump shot
27-29
4:34
Tavion Banks blocks Darrion Williams's two point jump shot
4:34
JT Toppin offensive rebound
4:34
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup
27-31
4:13
JT Toppin blocks Tavion Banks's two point layup
4:11
JT Toppin defensive rebound
3:59
Darrion Williams misses two point jump shot
3:57
Kael Combs defensive rebound
3:48
Kael Combs misses two point layup
3:46
Darrion Williams defensive rebound
3:31
TV timeout
3:22
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point jump shot (Elijah Hawkins assists)
27-33
3:01
Tavion Banks turnover (lost ball) (Darrion Williams steals)
2:47
Darrion Williams misses three point jump shot
2:45
Kael Combs defensive rebound
2:30
+3
Daniel Abreu makes three point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)
30-33
2:28
Red Raiders 30 second timeout
2:10
Elijah Hawkins misses three point jump shot
2:08
Mitch Mascari defensive rebound
1:40
Mitch Mascari misses three point jump shot
1:38
Daniel Abreu offensive rebound
1:35
Isaia Howard misses two point jump shot
1:33
JT Toppin defensive rebound
1:19
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup (Darrion Williams assists)
30-35
1:03
Isaia Howard turnover (traveling)
0:45
Christian Anderson misses two point layup
0:43
Tavion Banks defensive rebound
0:35
Isaia Howard misses two point layup
0:33
Red Raiders defensive rebound
0:11
Cam Manyawu personal foul
0:02
+2
JT Toppin makes two point hook shot
30-37
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
DRAKE
Bulldogs
34
TXTCH
Red Raiders
40
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:44
Isaiah Jackson misses two point jump shot
19:42
JT Toppin defensive rebound
19:25
JT Toppin misses two point layup
19:23
Mitch Mascari defensive rebound
19:05
+3
Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot (Cam Manyawu assists)
33-37
18:43
Isaiah Jackson personal foul
18:35
Daniel Abreu shooting foul (Darrion Williams draws the foul)
18:35
+1
Darrion Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2
33-38
18:35
+1
Darrion Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2
33-39
18:19
Cam Manyawu turnover (bad pass) (Darrion Williams steals)
18:12
Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
18:10
Cam Manyawu defensive rebound
17:52
Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
17:50
Red Raiders defensive rebound
17:35
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point hook shot
33-41
17:19
Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
17:17
JT Toppin defensive rebound
17:08
Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
17:06
Daniel Abreu defensive rebound
16:44
+3
Daniel Abreu makes three point jump shot (Kael Combs assists)
36-41
16:20
Christian Anderson turnover (bad pass) (Kael Combs steals)
16:15
+2
Bennett Stirtz makes two point layup
38-41
16:01
Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
15:59
Kerwin Walton offensive rebound
15:53
+2
JT Toppin makes two point jump shot (Elijah Hawkins assists)
38-43
15:29
JT Toppin blocks Tavion Banks's two point layup
15:27
Christian Anderson defensive rebound
15:24
Bennett Stirtz shooting foul (Elijah Hawkins draws the foul)
15:24
Ben McCollum technical foul
15:24
TV timeout
15:24
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes technical free throw 1 of 2
38-44
15:24
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes technical free throw 2 of 2
38-45
15:24
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-46
15:24
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-47
14:58
Bennett Stirtz misses three point jump shot
14:56
Daniel Abreu offensive rebound
14:39
Daniel Abreu misses two point layup
14:37
JT Toppin defensive rebound
14:22
Kevin Overton offensive foul
14:22
Kevin Overton turnover (offensive foul)
14:09
Elijah Hawkins shooting foul (Kael Combs draws the foul)
14:09
Bulldogs 30 second timeout
14:09
TV timeout
14:09
+1
Kael Combs makes regular free throw 1 of 2
39-47
14:09
+1
Kael Combs makes regular free throw 2 of 2
40-47
13:40
Darrion Williams misses two point jump shot
13:38
Red Raiders turnover (shot clock violation)
13:18
+3
Daniel Abreu makes three point jump shot (Kael Combs assists)
43-47
12:50
Elijah Hawkins misses three point jump shot
12:48
Darrion Williams offensive rebound
12:47
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point layup
43-49
12:27
+2
Bennett Stirtz makes two point layup (Tavion Banks assists)
45-49
12:05
Kael Combs shooting foul (Elijah Hawkins draws the foul)
12:05
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 1 of 3
45-50
12:05
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 2 of 3
45-51
12:05
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 3 of 3
45-52
11:40
Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
11:38
Christian Anderson defensive rebound
11:20
Christian Anderson misses two point jump shot
11:18
Mitch Mascari defensive rebound
11:08
Kael Combs misses two point jump shot
11:06
Christian Anderson defensive rebound
11:00
Darrion Williams misses three point jump shot
10:58
Kael Combs defensive rebound
10:34
+2
Tavion Banks makes two point layup (Kael Combs assists)
47-52
10:05
+2
Federiko Federiko makes two point layup (Darrion Williams assists)
47-54
10:02
TV timeout
9:46
Daniel Abreu misses three point jump shot
9:44
Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
9:31
Kerwin Walton misses three point jump shot
9:29
Isaia Howard defensive rebound
9:11
+2
Bennett Stirtz makes two point jump shot
49-54
8:51
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point layup
49-56
8:32
Isaia Howard misses two point layup
8:30
Darrion Williams defensive rebound
8:17
+2
Elijah Hawkins makes two point layup
49-58
8:13
Bulldogs 30 second timeout
8:13
TV timeout
7:57
Kael Combs misses two point jump shot
7:55
Kael Combs offensive rebound
7:53
Kevin Overton personal foul
7:39
+2
Kael Combs makes two point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)
51-58
7:10
Christian Anderson misses three point jump shot
7:08
Cam Manyawu defensive rebound
6:39
Daniel Abreu misses two point jump shot
6:37
Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
6:31
Cam Manyawu shooting foul (Kevin Overton draws the foul)
6:31
Kevin Overton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:31
+1
Kevin Overton makes regular free throw 2 of 2
51-59
6:20
+2
Kael Combs makes two point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)
53-59
6:02
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point layup (Elijah Hawkins assists)
53-61
5:36
Bennett Stirtz misses three point jump shot
5:34
JT Toppin defensive rebound
5:11
+2
JT Toppin makes two point layup (Darrion Williams assists)
53-63
4:51
Kevin Overton blocks Bennett Stirtz's two point layup
4:49
Elijah Hawkins defensive rebound
4:21
Daniel Abreu shooting foul (JT Toppin draws the foul)
4:21
+1
JT Toppin makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-64
4:21
+1
JT Toppin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
53-65
4:06
JT Toppin shooting foul (Tavion Banks draws the foul)
4:06
+1
Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 1 of 2
54-65
4:06
Tavion Banks misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:06
Tavion Banks offensive rebound
4:04
Kevin Overton shooting foul (Tavion Banks draws the foul)
4:04
+1
Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 1 of 2
55-65
4:04
+1
Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-65
3:47
+2
Darrion Williams makes two point layup
56-67
3:29
Darrion Williams shooting foul (Tavion Banks draws the foul)
3:29
TV timeout
3:29
+1
Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 1 of 2
57-67
3:29
+1
Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 2 of 2
58-67
3:15
Cam Manyawu personal foul (Elijah Hawkins draws the foul)
3:15
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2
58-68
3:15
Elijah Hawkins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:15
Tavion Banks defensive rebound
3:06
Bennett Stirtz misses three point jump shot
3:04
Cam Manyawu offensive rebound
3:01
Mitch Mascari misses three point jump shot
2:59
Red Raiders defensive rebound
2:39
+3
Christian Anderson makes three point jump shot (Darrion Williams assists)
58-71
2:14
JT Toppin shooting foul (Mitch Mascari draws the foul)
2:14
Mitch Mascari misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:14
Mitch Mascari misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:14
Kerwin Walton defensive rebound
2:01
+2
Elijah Hawkins makes two point layup
58-73
1:50
Christian Anderson personal foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
1:50
Red Raiders 60 second timeout
1:50
+1
Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 1 of 2
59-73
1:50
Bennett Stirtz misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:50
Kerwin Walton defensive rebound
1:37
Red Raiders turnover (10-second violation)
1:33
+2
Bennett Stirtz makes two point layup (Tavion Banks assists)
61-73
1:32
Bulldogs 30 second timeout
1:19
Isaiah Jackson personal foul (Elijah Hawkins draws the foul)
1:19
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2
61-74
1:19
+1
Elijah Hawkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2
61-75
1:07
Daniel Abreu misses two point jump shot
1:05
Darrion Williams defensive rebound
1:04
Isaia Howard personal foul (Darrion Williams draws the foul)