The Frogs bounced back after their loss to UCF just as Emanuel Miller said they would. They executed their plan at the T-Mobile Center, beating Oklahoma by 77-70.
Miller said this win is more than a tournament win, it is setting the trajectory of what direction TCU wants to head in as they get closer to reaching March Madness.
“It is not just this game, I want to win this tournament, I want to beat Houston and I want to beat the next team, and win again and again, all the way till March,” said Miller. “It is a matter of staying composed, living in the moment, but not getting too excited.”
Miller led the team with 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists, which made for his ninth game scoring 20 or more points.
Chuck O’Bannon was in the starting lineup, a rare sight this season, but he seized the opportunity. O’Bannon contributed two quick three-pointers to set the game’s tone early in the first half.
Head coach Jamie Dixon said the decision to include O’Bannon in the starting lineup was his exceptional defensive abilities, which have been a dominant force on the court.
“We are looking for guys who don’t turn the ball over and don’t make mistakes defensively, and to be honest with you, he has done the best job over the past couple of games,” said Dixon. “That is why we went with him.”
The Frogs extended their early lead when Jameer Nelson Jr. capitalized on an Oklahoma foul, making it 28-17 after making both free throw attempts. Nelson contributed 14 points, two rebounds and five assists.
Miller and Micah Peavy were a formidable duo on the court, taking the majority of shots for TCU. At 4:27, JaKobe Coles missed a layup in traffic, but Peavy stole the ball back, giving TCU a second chance to score. Coles redeemed himself with a successful layup on the fast break, making it 37-23.
Ernest Udeh’s has been absent recently, but returned in TCU’s final regular-season game. He made a significant impact against Oklahoma, capitalizing on a second-chance free throw opportunity, intercepting a deep pass from the competition and throwing down an alley-oop dunk to keep TCU’s momentum going.
Peavy’s standout performance in the first half included a remarkable buzzer-beater three-pointer, sending the Frogs into halftime with a 45-31 lead.
Despite OU’s potential comeback opportunities, their reliance on free throws kept them in the game until Miller got into his offensive groove yet again. Nelson got a glare down low in traffic and passed the ball down to Miller who was left completely alone and open under the basket to make the layup. Miller helped the Frogs take a 62-46 lead.
Things got scary down the stretch as OU worked themselves back to a nine-point deficit with 1:59 left in the game. Milos Uzan hit a pullup three-pointer bringing the Sooners 66-75. The play was followed by another Sooner bucket from Otega Oweh, 68-75 with 1:05 left. Luckily for TCU, a personal foul was called on OU Le’tre Darthard, sending Nelson to the line for two.
Up next
After winning its opening game of the tournament, TCU will face No. 1-seeded Houston on Thursday afternoon. The Frogs beat Houston by one point at home earlier in the season.
“We have Houston and that is another fight, if not a bigger fight,” said Miller. “We have to prepare and get a lot of recovery tonight because tomorrow, we’re about to go back to battle.”
Tip-off for the game will be at 2 p.m.
