The TCU Horned Frogs are now 2–2 on the season following a 67–63 defeat to the sixth-ranked Michigan Wolverines. Despite the loss, TCU delivered its best performance of the season against one of the nation’s
top teams.
The Horned Frogs opened hot. After falling behind 3–0, they responded with a 16–5 run, with six different players scoring TCU’s first six field goals. Their early lead was built not only on efficient offense but also on a suffocating defense that forced seven turnovers in the first eight minutes.
A Brock Harding jumper pushed the Frogs ahead by seven with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half, but the Wolverines clawed back. Michigan chipped away at the deficit—cutting it to one over the next four minutes—before eventually taking a two-point advantage.
TCU briefly regained control after a tough Micah Robinson and-one. Robinson’s bucket sparked an 11-point burst in the final three minutes of the half, giving the Frogs a 35–33 advantage at the break.
The second half resembled the opening minutes of the game—a physical, defensive grind. Neither team reached 50 points until inside the seven-minute mark, when Liutauras Lelevicius powered home a slam to get TCU there first.
From there, TCU’s offense stalled. Michigan responded with eight straight points, taking a six-point lead after a Trey McKenney triple. A Harding layup briefly cut the deficit to four, but both teams struggled to generate offense as the clock ticked down. The Wolverines built their largest lead of the night at the two-minute mark, going up 61–54, but a confident Robinson three kept the Frogs within striking distance with 90 seconds left.
Yaxel Landeborg extended Michigan’s lead to six with a pair of free throws. Still, the Frogs refused to fold. Harding and Jayden Pierre each converted layups to pull TCU within two. After an Elliot Cadeau turnover, the Frogs had a chance to tie the game at 63, but Tanner Toolson’s clean mid-range look rimmed out. Michigan closed the door at the line, sinking all four free throws to secure the 67–63 win.
Four Wolverines scored in double figures, with Landeborg and Morez Johnson each recording a double-double. Michigan shot just 43 percent from the floor and 31 percent from deep, but dominated the glass, outrebounding TCU 44–23. Some of that margin stemmed from Michigan’s turnover issues—Big Blue coughed it up 22 times, 11 more than TCU.
The Frogs were led by Harding, who filled the box score with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Robinson and Toolson added 12 and 10 off the bench, respectively, with Robinson remaining the only Horned Frog to score in double figures in every game this season. Despite forcing so many turnovers, TCU’s offense sputtered, shooting 23-for-62 overall and 7-for-24 from three.
Up next, TCU hosts the Kansas City Roos on Wednesday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. CT.
