RJ Nembhard’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer sends TCU coach Jamie Dixon to win No. 400
Jamie Dixon isn’t going to forget his 400th win anytime soon.
Sophomore guard RJ Nembhard drilled a game-winning 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left, sending TCU to a thrilling 59-58 victory over UC Irvine on Thursday night at Schollmaier Arena.
The Horned Frogs led the entire first half, but had to rally back from a five-point deficit in the final two minutes. Nembhard did the heavy lifting by making a 3-pointer with 1:36 left and the clincher just before the buzzer.
“I love these moments,” said Nembhard, the Keller High product who finished a career-high 20 points.
“When I was playing at Keller our team wasn’t picked to win games a lot. We had to gut it out a lot. It kind of reminds me of this team. People aren’t really respecting us right now. We haven’t even played our best ball yet. We love this time.”
Especially Nembhard, who stayed aggressive despite a few missed opportunities late.
After he made the 3-pointer with 1:36 left to pull TCU to within 58-56, Nembhard missed a 3-point attempt that would have given the Frogs the lead with 1:04 left.
TCU center Kevin Samuel then missed a couple free throws that would’ve tied the game at 58-all with 30 seconds left.
Nembhard missed a possible game-tying layup with 12 seconds left and UC Irvine had a couple free throws to seal the game. But the Anteaters missed and the Frogs finally capitalized.
Nembhard drained the 3-pointer and UC Irvine couldn’t get a shot up before the buzzer. It was Nembhard’s fifth 3-pointer of the game, another career-best.
“My teammates have confidence in me, my coaches have confidence in me,” Nembhard said. “I tried to slow things down and make it just like any other shot.”
Said senior guard Edric Dennis: “I knew it was cash.”
What a way to get No. 400 for Dixon. He knew it wouldn’t be easy against UC Irvine, a 31-win team last season that won a first-round NCAA Tournament game against Kansas State.
UC Irvine dominated on the boards with a 44-28 advantage and had a 30-16 scoring advantage in the paint.
As Dixon said, “They’ve got four big guys that are as physical and skilled as I think in the country. I really do. Old and experienced. They’re very good.”
But TCU found a way to get it done.
TCU never trailed in the first half, although it got off to another slow start. The Frogs endured a 4:43 scoring drought early in the game before going on a 9-0 run to take a 15-6 lead.
UC Irvine stayed within striking distance, trailing 28-22 at halftime and eventually jumped in front for the first time at the 13:33 mark of the second half.
Anteaters forward John Edgar Jr. stole a pass by Frogs freshman Diante Smith, and went in for an easy fast-break dunk to take a 38-36 lead.
UC Irvine stayed in front until Nembhard’s 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
“We have found some ways to win down the stretch,” Dixon said. “We’ve made plays and we did it again today. So that’s a good sign.”
The overarching storyline from the game is Dixon becoming the 11th coach in history to reach the 400-win mark in 17 seasons. He’s never had a losing season in his career and is off to a promising start to keep that intact this season.
Pretty impressive for a coach who envisioned working at the junior college level before joining the UC Santa Barbara staff as a graduate assistant for the 1991-92 season.
Jerry Pimm was the head coach at UC Santa Barbara, but Dixon credits then-assistant Ben Howland with helping him get his first break in the business.
Dixon went on to Hawaii as an assistant for a couple of seasons, joking: “I figured I was at the right age to go live off nothing in Hawaii and be fine.”
When Howland took over Northern Arizona, Dixon rejoined him. Dixon followed Howland to Pitt and eventually succeeded him as the head coach. The rest, as they say, is history.
Dixon has become one of the top coaches in the country. His record tells the story even if he downplayed the milestone afterward.
“Yeah, I heard it when I was walking off,” Dixon said. “I felt like I hadn’t given it much thought. I did hear it when they said it coming off, so I recognize it.
“I’ve been at great places, that’s probably what it says. I’ve been very lucky. I’m lucky to be here. That’s what it means. I’m very fortunate and very thankful.”
TCU (4-0) returns to action against Clemson on Sunday as part of the MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Central time at T-Mobile Arena.
This story was originally published November 21, 2019 at 10:33 PM.
