No. 24 TCU hits late FTs, tops Texas Tech after blowing lead
AP
Feb 25, 2023
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) JaKobe Coles knew the injury situation for No. 24 TCU Horned Frogs would mean a bigger role against Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The sophomore big man might not have envisioned standing at the free-throw line with a one-point deficit in the final seconds. He calmly came through.
Coles made two free throws with 4.3 seconds remaining, and the Horned Frogs held on for an 83-82 victory Saturday despite blowing a 12-point lead in the final eight minutes.
After De'Vion Harmon's steal and layup put the Red Raiders in front by one with 12 seconds remaining, Coles caught a pass from Emanuel Miller in the lane and was fouled by Fardaws Aimaq.
The Horned Frogs (19-10, 8-8 Big 12), who were without center Eddie Lampkin again because of an ankle injury, weren't in the bonus. They went inside anyway after the Red Raiders used one of two fouls to give on TCU leading scorer Mike Miles Jr. on the previous possession.
Coles, who was a minute shy of his season high with 27, rose for the shot as the ball was knocked loose and he made contact with Aimaq.
''Emanuel I thought made a terrific play feeding JaKobe,'' TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. ''We said that would be open, and we wanted to get it inside because we figured they'd foul Mike if we got it out front again.''
Harmon's desperation 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded wasn't close, ending a four-game winning streak for Texas Tech (16-13, 5-11), which is trying to stay in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth despite an 0-8 start in Big 12 play.
''These guys have been under a lot of stress,'' Red Raiders coach Mark Adams said. ''I was proud of our guys for coming back. These guys have been through a lot, and we're probably a little bit worn out emotionally.''
Miles scored 24 points and Coles 15 for the Horned Frogs, who had lost five of six and were coming off a loss to No. 3 Kansas at home. Miller had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Xavier Cork scored 10 points despite foul trouble.
Aimaq scored 19 points, Harmon had 18 and Kevin Obanor finished with 17 points and nine rebounds for Texas Tech.
TCU led 74-62 after a 3-pointer by Coles with 7:39 remaining, but Texas Tech went on an 8-0 run and eventually got the deficit to two with three minutes to go.
Jaylon Tyson's 3-pointer with 1:43 left gave the Red Raiders their first lead since the 10-minute mark of the first half before Damion Baugh, who had nine assists, fed Miles for a dunk.
With TCU still leading by one, Miles drove to the basket before a kick-out pass that Harmon intercepted and converted into a layup for an 82-81 lead.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
TCU managed to stay ranked through its extended slump, and is 2-5 in February. The Frogs have been ranked in 12 consecutive polls, but that school-record streak could be in jeopardy when the new AP Top 25 comes out Monday.
ROUNDING INTO FORM
Miles, the preseason Big 12 player of the year, bounced back from a 4-of-14 shooting night against the Jayhawks on Monday by making eight of 16 from the floor. It was his third game after missing five with a hyperextended right knee.
''Mike hit some clutch shots,'' Dixon said. ''He's back now. I kind of said that we needed probably two games under (his) belt. That's just how the world works when you're out that long.''
BIG PICTURE
TCU: The Horned Frogs ended a seven-game losing streak in Lubbock, and former Texas Tech player Micah Peavy played an important role in the second half. Both of his baskets came on consecutive put-back baskets during a stretch that helped turn away one of several second-half rallies from the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders might have finished the rally with better defensive rebounding in the second half. The Horned Frogs had several put-back buckets after the break and outscored Texas Tech 20-12 on second-chance points. ''They've been rebounding like crazy,'' Dixon said of the Red Raiders. ''So we had to get that done.''
UP NEXT
TCU: No. 8 Texas at home on Wednesday.
Texas Tech: At No. 3 Kansas on Tuesday.
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1st Half
TCU
Horned Frogs
44
TXTCH
Red Raiders
35
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Xavier Cork vs. Fardaws Aimaq (Red Raiders gains possession)
19:44
+2
Kevin Obanor makes two point hook shot
0-2
19:27
Emanuel Miller misses two point layup
19:25
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
19:13
+3
Jaylon Tyson makes three point jump shot (Fardaws Aimaq assists)
0-5
18:53
Damion Baugh misses three point jump shot
18:51
Fardaws Aimaq defensive rebound
18:46
Pop Isaacs turnover (bad pass) (Damion Baugh steals)
18:40
+2
Chuck O'Bannon Jr. makes two point dunk (Damion Baugh assists)
2-5
18:14
Pop Isaacs misses three point jump shot
18:12
Fardaws Aimaq offensive rebound
18:12
Fardaws Aimaq turnover (lost ball)
17:55
Mike Miles Jr. misses two point jump shot
17:53
Emanuel Miller offensive rebound
17:49
+2
Emanuel Miller makes two point layup
4-5
17:28
Fardaws Aimaq misses three point jump shot
17:26
Emanuel Miller defensive rebound
17:09
Chuck O'Bannon Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:07
Pop Isaacs defensive rebound
17:01
+3
Pop Isaacs makes three point jump shot
4-8
16:30
Mike Miles Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:28
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
16:18
Kevin Obanor misses three point jump shot
16:16
Horned Frogs defensive rebound
15:54
+2
JaKobe Coles makes two point layup (Damion Baugh assists)
6-8
15:31
Robert Jennings misses two point layup
15:29
Elijah Fisher offensive rebound
15:24
Robert Jennings misses two point layup
15:22
Jaylon Tyson offensive rebound
15:18
+2
Jaylon Tyson makes two point layup
6-10
15:05
Robert Jennings personal foul (Mike Miles Jr. draws the foul)
15:05
TV timeout
15:05
Horned Frogs turnover (5-second violation)
14:48
JaKobe Coles blocks Kevin Obanor's two point layup
14:46
Emanuel Miller defensive rebound
14:31
Fardaws Aimaq shooting foul (Mike Miles Jr. draws the foul)
14:31
Mike Miles Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:31
+1
Mike Miles Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
7-10
14:22
De'Vion Harmon misses two point layup
14:20
Kevin Obanor offensive rebound
14:19
JaKobe Coles shooting foul (Kevin Obanor draws the foul)
14:19
+1
Kevin Obanor makes regular free throw 1 of 2
7-11
14:19
+1
Kevin Obanor makes regular free throw 2 of 2
7-12
13:57
+2
Mike Miles Jr. makes two point layup (JaKobe Coles assists)
9-12
13:30
Lamar Washington misses three point jump shot
13:28
Horned Frogs defensive rebound
13:11
Shahada Wells misses three point jump shot
13:09
Red Raiders defensive rebound
12:46
+2
Kevin Obanor makes two point hook shot
9-14
12:21
Damion Baugh misses three point jump shot
12:19
De'Vion Harmon defensive rebound
12:06
Chuck O'Bannon Jr. shooting foul (De'Vion Harmon draws the foul)
12:06
+1
De'Vion Harmon makes regular free throw 1 of 2
9-15
12:06
De'Vion Harmon misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:06
Chuck O'Bannon Jr. defensive rebound
11:46
+2
Xavier Cork makes two point layup (Damion Baugh assists)