UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, No. 19 Texas Tech pulled off a stunning 82-81 victory against third-ranked Duke after rallying from a daunting 17-point deficit at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Red Raiders’ Christian Anderson delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 23 of his 27 points in the second half, including the decisive free throw with just 3.4 seconds left on the clock.
Duke had led the game 58-41 with over 16 minutes remaining but faltered in the final minutes, marking their first blown 17-point lead since February 2007. Anderson was fouled by Duke’s Caleb Foster and converted the initial free throw, although he missed the second. Duke attempted to set up a play post-timeout, but Cameron Boozer’s three-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired, prompting Texas Tech players to spill onto the court in celebration.
This victory is significant for Texas Tech (9-3), improving their record against Top 25 teams to 1-3 this season and ending a six-game losing streak against ranked opponents. It marks the program’s first win against Duke in three attempts and their first victory over a top-five team since defeating No. 1 Baylor in January 2022.
Duke (11-1), which had been on a nine-game winning streak at MSG, struggled down the stretch. After Texas Tech’s LeJuan Watts scored 20 points before fouling out, JT Toppin contributed with 19 points and 10 rebounds, hitting a crucial jumper that put the Red Raiders ahead 78-77 with 1:35 remaining.
Cameron Boozer led Duke with 23 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists but faced difficulties at the free-throw line, missing five of 14 attempts. His twin brother, Cayden Boozer, added 13 points off the bench, yet the Blue Devils could not maintain their late lead.
As Texas Tech celebrates this historic win, all eyes will be on their next game to see if they can build on this momentum. Meanwhile, Duke will be looking to regroup and address their late-game execution as they prepare for their upcoming matchups.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the implications of this upset resonate throughout college basketball.
