No. 11 Texas Tech extends nonconference home winning streak to 41 with 80-63 victory over Milwaukee

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The No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders did what they do best at home on Friday night, extending their nonconference home winning streak to a staggering 41 games with a decisive 80-63 victory over the Milwaukee Panthers.It was a classic team effort, the kind that makes you believe this squad has the depth to make some real noise come March. Christian Anderson led the charge with a cool 18 points and seven dimes, but the story was the balanced scoring—five guys hit double figures, which is just a nightmare for any opposing coach trying to game plan.The game had a bit of a slow burn early on, but then Texas Tech flipped a switch and went on a blistering 19-6 run in just over three and a half minutes. That stretch was pure fire, with Donovan Atwell, who finished with 17 points and five triples, draining a three to put the Red Raiders up 24-23, a lead they would never relinquish.The possession before that was pure hustle from preseason AP All-American forward JT Toppin, who had a tough and-one on a tip-in that sparked an 11-0 personal run. Toppin might have had an off shooting night, ending with just seven points on 3-of-10 from the floor, but he still impacted the game massively by cleaning the glass with 10 rebounds.That's the mark of a winning player—when your shot isn't falling, you find other ways to contribute. This win was a solid bounce-back after a tough 81-77 road loss to No.14 Illinois earlier in the week, and it really underscores the fortress that United Supermarkets Arena has become. Think about it: they haven't lost a non-conference game on their home floor since an overtime thriller against No.15 Kentucky back in January 2020. Under third-year coach Grant McCasland, they are a perfect 19-0 in these games, building a culture and an identity that is straight-up intimidating for visitors.The run was fueled by more than just the starters; Jaylen Petty came off the bench and dropped all 11 of his points during that pivotal surge, hitting a trio of threes that just sucked the life out of Milwaukee. Tyeree Bryan added 13, and LeJuan Watts was a beast down low, just missing a double-double with 10 points and nine boards.For Milwaukee, now 2-3, Danilo Jovanovich put up a valiant 17 points, and Sekou Konneh added 12 and eight rebounds, but they simply couldn't withstand the Red Raiders' depth and second-half execution. Looking ahead, the schedule gets interesting.Texas Tech is heading to the Bahamas for a tournament where they'll face Wake Forest next Thursday, a crucial test against a Power 5 opponent on a neutral floor. Meanwhile, Milwaukee continues its grueling road trip with a game at Wichita State on November 22nd.For Texas Tech, maintaining this home dominance is one thing, but translating that success into consistent road and neutral-court wins is the next step if they want to be considered a legitimate contender for the Big 12 title and a high seed in the NCAA tournament. The streak is a fantastic talking point and a testament to the program's growth, but the real challenge now is to prove this resilience isn't just a Lubbock phenomenon.

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