Darrion Williams scored a season-high 28 points and JT Toppin added 25 points and 12 rebounds to help third-seeded Texas Tech post a 77-64 victory over 11th-seeded Drake on Saturday in West Region second-round play at Wichita, Kan.

Elijah Hawkins had 16 points and seven assists for the Red Raiders (27-8), who advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the past seven NCAA Tournaments. Toppin made 11 of 13 field-goal attempts and Williams hit 11 of 18 shots.

Texas Tech will face 10th-seeded Arkansas in the Sweet 16.

“This is amazing,” Toppin said. “I love this team. We’ve all been through so much and we stick together.”

Bennett Stirtz recorded 21 points and eight assists and Daniel Abreu scored 15 points on five 3-pointers for the Bulldogs (31-4). Kael Combs added 13 points and Tavion Banks had 11 for Drake, which set a school record for victories.

“I didn’t really think in terms of 31 wins. But I did think success was coming. … I’ve been blessed to be around the right people,” Drake coach Ben McCollum.

Texas Tech once again played without Chance McMillian (upper-body injury).

The Red Raiders shot 53.8 percent from the field, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range. Texas Tech held a 50-20 edge in points in the paint.

“We watched film and we knew we had to beat them inside out and we just executed,” Toppin said.

Drake made 42.6 percent of its attempts and sank 8 of 17 from behind the arc.

The Bulldogs trailed 52-47 after a layup by Banks with 10:33 remaining but Texas Tech soon opened a double-digit lead.

Back-to-back layups by Williams and Hawkins gave the Red Raiders a 58-49 lead with 8:17 left.

A short time later, Toppin’s layup made it a 10-point margin and he added two free throws for a 65-53 lead with 4:21 remaining.

“Our guys were so composed and tough and I think that was a huge part of the win,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said.

Drake couldn’t cut into Texas Tech’s control and the game was put away when Christian Anderson drilled a 3-pointer with 2:37 left and Hawkins added a layup 37 seconds later to give the Red Raiders a 73-58 lead.

Toppin had 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting in the first half and Williams added 14 points as Texas Tech led 37-30.

Drake led 18-12 after a jumper by Combs with 11:08 left in the half before the Red Raiders ripped off 13 of the next 15 points. Toppin scored the final five points to give Texas Tech a 25-20 lead with 7:17 remaining.

Toppin later scored the final four points of the half as the Red Raiders led by seven.

–Field Level Media