‘He’s a monster.’ Samuel’s late tip-in pushes TCU past K-State for best Big 12 start
TCU has its big men run through tip drills often. They went through it in the practice leading into Tuesday night’s game at Kansas State.
It paid off in a big way.
Center Kevin Samuel tipped in what became the game-winning shot of the Horned Frogs’ 59-57 victory over the Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum.
“We just worked on it,” Samuel said, smiling. “It’s like déjà vu. We’ve got a tip drill for the bigs.”
Samuel delivered the winning shot with 2.0 seconds left, finding a path to the rim for the put-back after RJ Nembhard’s running jumper bounced off the rim.
It marked the first time Samuel has scored the game-winning basket in his career, capping off a standout performance. He finished with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season.
“He’s a monster,” TCU senior guard Desmond Bane said. “I tell him that every day. He’s gotten a lot better since last year. His motor is a lot better. His touch around the rim is a lot better. These are the type of nights he’ll have throughout the season. I’m lucky he’s on my side and not on the other side.”
Bane scored a team-high 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while Nembhard finished with 15 points and senior guard Jaire Grayer had 10 points.
TCU improved to 2-0 in the Big 12, the first time it’s off to a 2-0 start since joining the league in 2012. The last time the Frogs were 2-0 in conference play was the 2008-09 season as a member of the Mountain West.
“Found a way. Obviously we kind of predicted it would be this kind of game,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. “Low-scoring. Teams grinding, getting after it and playing. It’s not an easy place to win up here. I know how difficult it is.
“Some things we can do better. We know what they are, but right now we’ll be thankful for the win and to get 2-0 and get ready for the next one on Saturday.”
TCU closed the first half with an impressive 16-2 run, taking a 35-25 lead into the locker rooms. That run was highlighted by a 3-pointer by Grayer at the buzzer.
K-State stayed within striking distance, though, early on in the second half. An 11-1 run by the Wildcats pulled them to within 41-40 with 11:14 left.
But the Frogs never surrendered the lead. Nembhard knocked down a 3-pointer after the Wildcats’ to regain a two-possession lead.
K-State cut the deficit to one once again, 53-52 with 2:17 left on a jumper by DaJuan Gordon. But TCU answered just 13 seconds later with a 3-pointer by Bane.
K-State pulled to within 56-54 with 45 seconds left after a turnover by TCU guard Francisco Farabello. Then Nembhard made only one of two free throws with 26 seconds left to keep it a one-possession game at 57-54.
The Wildcats capitalized and tied the game at 57-all on a 3-pointer by David Sloan with 13 seconds left. But TCU had some late magic left with Samuel’s tip-in.
“I was just going for the offensive rebound hard,” Samuel said. “It was right there so I just tipped it back in.”
That salvaged what had been a disappointing second half for the Frogs. They scored just 24 points, shooting 22.2% from the field. TCU struggled at the free throw line once again, too, making just 9-of-17 for the game.
K-State had a shot to win it at the buzzer with a desperation 3-pointer, but Sloan’s heave didn’t have a chance.
For TCU, a win is a win. Especially on the road.
“It’s huge,” Bane said. “We have a lot of guys who it’s their first time playing in the Big 12, period. To go on the road and beat a team like Kansas State, which is physical and tough, is huge for us. It shows what type of guys we have in our program.”
TCU returns home to face Oklahoma State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Schollmaier Arena.
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 10:21 PM.
