No. 9 seed TCU Horned Frogs backed up its confidence in dramatic fashion Thursday, edging No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes 66-64 in a thrilling first-round matchup in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Region.
TCU’s Xavier Edmonds delivered the defining moment of the night, converting a clutch layup with just 4.3 seconds remaining after a perfectly executed inbounds play. The setup came from David Punch, who threaded a textbook entry pass to Edmonds, sealing a victory that validated his pregame confidence. Earlier in the week, Punch told the Columbus Dispatch that TCU would beat Ohio State “nine times out of 10” due to its athleticism—a statement that quickly became bulletin-board material.
On Thursday, he and the Horned Frogs proved it. Ohio State had one final chance, but Bruce Thornton’s desperation half-court heave at the buzzer struck only the backboard. As the ball caromed away, Thornton bent over in frustration near midcourt while TCU players erupted in celebration.
The Horned Frogs were powered by a balanced offensive attack. Micah Robinson led the way with 18 points, knocking down four 3-pointers, while Edmonds added 16—including the game-winner—and Punch recorded a dominant double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. His physical presence inside helped TCU control much of the first half.
TCU (23-11) looked firmly in command early, building a 15-point halftime lead and dictating the tempo. But the Buckeyes (21-13), making their first tournament appearance since 2022, stormed back in the second half. TCU went ice cold, missing 18 of its first 22 shots after the break, allowing Ohio State to seize a 55-50 lead with just under seven minutes to play.
From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle. Robinson drilled a crucial 3-pointer with 56 seconds left to give TCU a 64-61 edge, but Thornton answered with a clutch triple of his own with 33 seconds remaining to tie the game at 64. That set the stage for TCU’s final possession, where head coach Jamie Dixon called timeout to draw up the decisive play.
Afterward, Dixon admitted a late defensive adjustment—suggested by his players—led to Thornton’s tying shot, and he made it clear he won’t be overruled so easily next time. Fortunately for TCU, they still had one final play left to execute—and they made it count.
With the win, TCU advances to face No. 1 overall seed Duke Blue Devils on Saturday, setting up a compelling second-round showdown after Duke narrowly avoided an upset of its own against Siena.
For one night, at least, TCU didn’t just talk the talk—they delivered when it mattered most.
