Xavier Edmonds made a go-ahead layup with 4.3 seconds left to lift No. 9 TCU to a 66-64 victory over No. 8 Ohio State in a first-round East Region matchup on Thursday afternoon in Greenville, S.C.
Micah Robinson led TCU (23-11) with 18 points, while David Punch added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Horned Frogs, who fell behind by five after leading by 15 points at halftime. Edmonds also scored 16 for TCU, which advances to face the winner of No. 1 Duke and No. 16 Siena on Saturday.
John Mobley Jr.’s 15 points led Ohio State (21-13), followed by Devin Royal’s 14. Amare Bynum added 12 and Bruce Thornton and Christoph Tilly chipped in 10 apiece.
TCU missed 10 of its first 11 field-goal attempts to start the second half and saw its advantage trimmed to three on Royal’s floater at the 12:42 mark. Jayden Pierre stopped the run with a 3-pointer to give the Horned Frogs a 46-40 edge.
Following Punch’s three-point play, Buckeye reserve Gabe Cupps hit a 3-pointer to stamp a 7-0 run, slicing the deficit to two with 8:50 left.
Just over a minute later, Bynum’s runner high off the glass gave Ohio State a one-point lead — its first since the first two minutes of the game. The run continued as Royal’s consecutive baskets at the rim put the Buckeyes ahead 55-50.
TCU fought back to grab a one-point lead on Punch’s layup with 3:58 left. After Thornton’s free throws returned the lead to Ohio State, Punch powered for a three-point play to give the Horned Frogs a 61-59 edge with 1:45 remaining.
Royal’s free throws knotted the score at 61-61. Robinson and Thornton traded 3-pointers in the final minute, again tying the score.
TCU then took its final timeout, leading to Edmonds’ game-winner. Thornton’s half-court heave hit high off the backboard as time expired.
Ohio State missed several early shots and fell behind 10-5 on Punch’s floater.
Robinson and Edmonds drilled consecutive triples to open up a seven-point TCU lead. After Bynum’s layup stopped the bleeding, Edmonds’ second trey gave the Horned Frogs a 23-15 edge.
Robinson hit TCU’s fifth 3-pointer of the first half with 3:15 remaining, extending the lead to 31-24. The Horned Frogs tacked on Edmonds’ steal and slam, followed by Robinson and Brock Harding’s triples to close the half on an 11-0 run.
