One week after beating back-to-back top-10 opponents and entering the AP poll at No. 19, the Frogs dropped a dogfight to Big-12 newcomers Cincinnati in overtime, who notched its second win over a ranked opponent this season.
It’s just another example of how hard it is to win on the road in the Big 12. An hour later, No. 9 Baylor was downed 68-64 by unranked Kansas State.
Down by two, JaKobe Coles had a chance to give the Frogs the lead, but missed the three-point attempt. Cincinnati’s point guard Day Day Thomas sealed the game with two made free throws that put the Bearcats up by four with five seconds left in overtime.
The Frogs dominated early, maintaining a 10-point lead for the opening seven minutes, but six turnovers in the last nine minutes but gave the Bearcats every opportunity to get back in to the game.
And get back in they did. They ended the half within one and forced the game into overtime despite having a chance to end it in regulation with two free throws from Daniel Skillings Jr.
The Frogs had a chance of their own to finish the game in regulation, but Ernest Udeh Jr. missed a free throw of his own, so the game remained tied as the game clock hit zero.
It was only right that Thomas would put the final dagger in the Frogs, as he led the scoring in the game with 21 points. He also tallied four rebounds and six assists.
Cincinnati’s John Newman III was right behind Thomas in the stat column, with 20 points, seven rebounds and one assist.
TCU’s Trey Tennyson led the Frogs in scoring with 17 points, three rebounds and two assists. Emanuel Miller was behind him, hitting double digits again with 15 points after hitting 1,000 as a Horned Frog last game. He also had three rebounds and six assists.
Three other Frogs hit double digits in the points column, including Udeh, Micah Peavy and Jameer Nelson Jr., who came off the bench for 13.
It was a back-and-forth battle inn the second half, but the Frogs dominated to start. They had a 10-point lead for the first seven minutes of the game until both teams’ offenses went silent. For about six minutes, neither team could find the net, until Cincinnati found some momentum before the end of the half.
Cincinnati almost made it a one-possession game, but Miller picked Simas Lukosius’ pocket. He missed the following layup, but Udeh was right behind him to slam it home, keeping the lead at seven.
With two minutes left in the first half, the Bearcats tied the game at 31 before Nelson put in a layup to put the Frogs up by two.
The half ended with the Frogs hanging on to a 33-32 lead.
The Bearcats got their first lead of the game one minute into the second half. They extended that from one point to three after a TCU turnover led to a dunk by Thomas.
The Frogs tied it back up via an Avery Anderson three-pointer as the shot clock expired.
Cincinnati took back the lead with a flashy layup by Newman that he was fouled on, but he missed the and-one.
Tennyson responded with a deep three to put the Frogs back up by one.
Newman had the chance to put the Bearcats back in front, but he missed both free throws. Cincinnati got the rebound after the second miss, but couldn’t take advantage and the Frogs got the ball back after the Bearcats sent the ball out of bounds.
A controversial foul call on Peavy sent Skillings to the line. He made his first, but missed the second. He got his own rebound and passed it to Aziz Bandaogo who put down a dunk to put the Bearcats within four with under six minutes left in the game.
With under three minutes left in the game, the Frogs had four offensive rebounds with the game at 64-62, but they failed to convert.
With .9 seconds left on the shot clock, Peavy let the in-bound pass slip through his hands and go out of bounds. Thomas only attempted one three-pointer and it was almost the game-winner for the Bearcats, giving them a 65-64 lead.
However, Tennyson responded with a three-pointer of his own, giving the Frogs a two-point lead.
The end of regulation saw two players go to the line for free throws that could win the game, but Cincinnati’s Skillings missed both of his and TCU’s Udeh missed his lone shot, leaving the game knotted at 67.
Cincinnati opened up overtime with a quick three-pointer from Newman, but Miller responded with four straight points via a layup in transition and two free throws.
Five lead changes later, the Frogs tied it up at 77 via a jump shot from Nelson, but that was the last time they would add to the scoreboard. Cincinnati’s Skillings made a layup before the Frogs were forced to foul Thomas after Coles missed the three-pointer to take the lead.
Miller took a three-pointer of his own to put the game within one with five seconds left in the game, but it was no-good. The Bearcats grabbed the rebound and held on for their seconds win over a ranked opponent this season.
Up next
The Frogs will come back home on Saturday to face No. 24 Iowa State with tip-off at 1 p.m.
TCU and Cincinnati will rematch in Fort Worth on Saturday, Feb. 24.
