Every remaining game for the TCU Horned Frogs is a must-win. But a matchup against fellow bubble teams raises the stakes even higher. After defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys on February 14, the Frogs fell to the UCF Knights three days later in an 11-point loss. However, TCU had an opportunity to bounce back at home against the West Virginia Mountaineers, and the Frogs did just that.
It wasn’t pretty, far from it actually, but the Frogs staved off the Mountaineers in a 60–54 victory. TCU struck
first on a Xavier Edmonds steal-and-layup at the 19:41 mark. Then, crickets… The next basket didn’t come until 16:26, when Chance Moore converted a lay-in to tie the game at two. The Frogs wouldn’t score again until 14:06, and three minutes later, West Virginia became the first team to reach double digits. TCU didn’t hit double figures until under the 10-minute mark, when Liutauras Lelevicius drilled his second straight triple to make the score 17-12.
After another Lelevicius basket cut the Frogs’ deficit to three, the Mountaineers answered. But TCU’s offense finally began to click. Following a 21–16 West Virginia lead, the Horned Frogs ripped off a 10–0 run to take a five-point advantage. The Mountaineers stopped the surge at the 3:59 mark, but TCU responded just 12 seconds later. With the score at 28–23, both teams managed just two more points apiece over the final three-plus minutes, sending the Frogs into halftime with a 30–25 lead.
The second half began much like the first. The Frogs scored within the opening minute but went nearly six minutes before recording another field goal. Micah Robinson broke a 34–34 tie with a triple to put TCU up three, but West Virginia answered with three free throws to knot the game again. A minute later, the Mountaineers grabbed the lead, though it didn’t last long.
When the clock dipped below 10 minutes, the Mountaineers began to seize control. West Virginia stretched its lead to six, 49–43, with 8:03 remaining. That’s when the Horned Frogs’ defense went into overdrive. With the offense struggling to find consistency, TCU locked in defensively, holding the Mountaineers to just five points over the final eight minutes.
During the final eight minutes, TCU outscored West Virginia by 12. Yet it still took time for the Frogs to reclaim the lead. They finally went in front at the 2:35 mark, when David Punch converted a driving layup. On the next possession, Punch struck again, finishing another tough lay-in to extend the advantage to four.
From there, it was about defensive stops and free throws. Over the final 90 seconds, TCU forced two turnovers and went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line to seal the victory. 60-54.
Despite shooting just 34.0 percent from the floor, including a ghastly 28.6 percent in the second half, TCU found a way by forcing turnovers and dominating the offensive glass. The Frogs forced 16 West Virginia turnovers and converted them into 12 points. TCU also won the rebounding battle 39–28, including a 19–9 edge on the offensive boards, leading to 13 second-chance points.
Edmonds led the Frogs’ starters with 14 points and added 13 rebounds, six offensive, marking his eighth double-double in the last nine games. Lelevicius scored 14 off the bench, including three three-pointers. Punch finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Brock Harding added 11 points and six assists.
Honor Huff paced the Mountaineers with 13 points. Brenen Lorient scored 10, and no other West Virginia player reached double figures.
Up next, TCU hosts the 14-13 Arizona State Sun Devils on Tuesday, February 24 at 8:00 p.m. CT.
