NEW YORK (Interstat) — Christian Anderson scored 27 points, including the go-ahead free throw with 3 seconds remaining, to lift Texas Tech to an 82-81 victory over Duke in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The Red Raiders erased a 10-point halftime deficit, outscoring the Blue Devils 46-35 after the break before a crowd of 19,812. Cameron Boozer led Duke with 23 points and seven assists. LeJuan Watts added 20 points for Texas Tech, which improved to 9-3. Duke, which got 13 points from Cayden Boozer, fell to 11-1.

NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stunning individual performance and a frantic final minute, Christian Anderson propelled Texas Tech to a dramatic 82-81 victory over Duke on Saturday night at the Wellness, Recreation & Athletic Center. The Red Raiders, overcoming a double-digit first-half deficit and a hostile environment of 19,812, secured the win at the free-throw line in the closing seconds, snapping the Blue Devils’ 11-game winning streak to open the season. Anderson, a 6-foot-2 guard from Atlanta, was spectacular, scoring a game-high 27 points and dishing out five assists in 40 minutes. His clutch gene was on full display down the stretch, as he scored 15 of Texas Tech’s final 19 points. The performance continued a torrid stretch for Anderson, who has now scored at least 26 points in four of his last five games. The contest was a tale of two halves. Duke, utilizing its size and a balanced attack, controlled the opening period. The Blue Devils shot efficiently and built a lead that grew to as many as 12 points. They took a 46-36 advantage into halftime, powered by 13 points from Cayden Boozer and nine from Dame Sarr off the bench. Texas Tech’s response after the break was immediate and forceful. The Red Raiders tightened their defense, disrupting Duke’s rhythm, and began chipping away at the lead with a more aggressive offensive approach. LeJuan Watts, who finished with 20 points, was instrumental in the early second-half surge, attacking the rim relentlessly. The game evolved into a tense, back-and-forth affair in the final ten minutes. Duke’s Cameron Boozer, a formidable 6-foot-9 forward from Miami, answered nearly every Texas Tech push. He led the Blue Devils with 23 points, seven assists and a block, showcasing an all-around game that kept his team in front for much of the second half. However, Anderson took over when it mattered most. With Texas Tech trailing 74-70 with under six minutes to play, he ignited a critical 7-0 run. He buried a deep 3-pointer, then, after forcing a turnover, hit another three to give the Red Raiders a 77-74 lead—their first advantage since the game’s opening minutes. Duke refused to wilt. Cayden Boozer hit a crucial 3-pointer with 1:01 remaining to tie the game at 80-80. On the ensuing possession, Anderson drove hard to the basket, drawing a foul and converting the layup. He completed the three-point play at the line, putting Texas Tech up 82-80 with 1:14 left. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 18 seconds. With Texas Tech clinging to an 82-81 lead, Cameron Boozer was fouled and sent to the line for two shots with a chance to put Duke ahead. He missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second, keeping the deficit at one. Duke immediately fouled Anderson on the inbounds pass, sending him to the line for a one-and-one with 3.3 seconds on the clock. Anderson made the first free throw to extend the lead to 82-81 but missed the second intentionally, hoping to drain the remaining time. Duke secured the rebound and called a timeout with 1.1 seconds left to set up a final play. The Blue Devils inbounded the ball to Cameron Boozer near the top of the key, but his contested, step-back 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed off the rim, sealing the Texas Tech victory. Beyond Anderson and Watts, JT Toppin provided crucial interior production for the Red Raiders with 19 points and relentless work on the glass. For Duke, Cayden Boozer finished with 13 points, while Maliq Brown added seven points, several key steals and a block. The loss was Duke’s first of the season, dropping its record to 11-1. Texas Tech, which entered the game as a significant underdog according to pregame analytics, improved to 9-3 and secured a resume-building victory away from home. Texas Tech returns to action on Dec. 28 against Winthrop. Duke will look to rebound when it opens Atlantic Coast Conference play against Georgia Tech on Dec. 31.

Preview: Duke Hosts Texas Tech in New York Showcase NEW YORK (Interstat) — The undefeated and top-ranked Duke Blue Devils put their perfect record on the line against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a high-profile nonconference men’s basketball clash Saturday at the Wellness, Recreation & Athletic Center. Duke (11-0) enters as one of the nation’s last remaining unbeaten teams, boasting a resume that includes ranked wins over Kansas and Michigan State. The Blue Devils have won each game by an average of 25.5 points, with their closest contest a 67-66 victory over Florida on Dec. 2. They are led by sophomore star Cameron Boozer, who is averaging 26.2 points and 5.4 rebounds over his last five games. Boozer scored 35 points in a win at Arkansas and 29 in the narrow victory over Florida, establishing himself as a premier clutch performer. Texas Tech (8-3) presents a significant step up in competition from Duke’s recent schedule. The Red Raiders have won four of their last five, with the lone loss coming on the road at Arkansas. Their most impressive win was an 82-58 rout of LSU on Dec. 7. The Red Raiders are powered by guard LeJuan Watts, who is coming off a career-high 36-point performance in a 101-90 win over Northern Colorado on Tuesday. Watts has scored 19 or more points in three of his last five outings and will be critical to challenging Duke’s defense. This game is a contrast in styles. Duke’s efficient, high-scoring offense, which has topped 90 points five times, will test a Texas Tech defense that has shown vulnerability, allowing 93 points in the loss to Arkansas and 90 to Northern Colorado. The Red Raiders will need a major defensive effort, likely anchored by forward JT Toppin, who had five blocks in their last game, to disrupt Duke’s rhythm. For Texas Tech, a victory would be a season-defining resume booster. For Duke, it is a final major test before beginning Atlantic Coast Conference play. The spotlight will be on the matchup between two of the sport’s emerging stars in Boozer and Watts at Madison Square Garden’s neighboring venue. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon. Duke’s next game is at home against Georgia Tech on Dec. 31. Texas Tech hosts Winthrop on Dec. 28.