TCU rallies to get first Big 12 win over Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
RJ Nembhard loves the big moments. He wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line, just like his favorite player Kobe Bryant did.
“It’s fun when it goes in,” Nembhard said. “Not so much when it doesn’t.”
Well, Nembhard and his TCU teammates experienced the fun and thrill of a game-winning shot, pulling off a 77-76 upset over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
TCU (6-2, 1-1 Big 12) won its first conference game while Oklahoma State (6-1, 0-1 Big 12) sustained its first loss of the season.
Nembhard shined the brightest on a night when all eyes were on Oklahoma State standout freshman Cade Cunningham, the Arlington native who is the favorite to become the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA Draft.
TCU closed on a 9-0 run, holding Cunningham and OSU scoreless in the final 2 minutes, 21 seconds.
The Frogs pulled to within 76-75 on a dunk by Kevin Samuel with 45 seconds left, and then Samuel blocked a layup by Oklahoma State’s Bryce Williams with 17 seconds left.
That gave TCU the ball and a chance to take the lead. Instead of calling a timeout to draw up a play, TCU coach Jamie Dixon told his team to “go, go, go.” Dixon didn’t want OSU to have an opportunity to get set on defense.
It worked out, as TCU had great ball movement. Freshman guard Taryn Todd found an open Nembhard, who faked a 3-pointer to get Cunningham to go by him. Nembhard then took one dribble and knocked down a 12-footer from the right elbow with eight seconds left.
“That was freelance,” Dixon said. “That was no one trying to be a hero. We had four guys who could’ve shot it, I think they all touched it, but just great patience and great understanding.”
Nembhard was ready to make a play when the ball came his way. He’s done it before for TCU and did it again.
Nembhard prides himself on his midrange game, constantly working on it during the “150 Drill.” That drill is designed for players to shoot 150 shots, starting with layups and then moving around the court in a semicircle from the paint to the 3-point line.
“I’ve practiced for moments like that,” Nembhard said. “The midrange game is a lost art.”
Nembhard and TCU, though, knew the game could’ve easily been lost with OSU having the final possession. After all, Cunningham is expected to knock down plenty of big shots in his career. Heck, he made the game-winning 3-pointer in OSU’s previous game against Wichita State on Saturday.
Cunningham was the guy OSU turned to in the final seconds, but he missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer. Todd and others made sure Cunningham didn’t get an open look.
“I was thinking he was going to take a shot, he’s that guy, so I was just trying to give it a good contest,” Todd said. “It went well.”
Nembhard had a game-high 21 points with four rebounds and four assists. Samuel finished with 18 points and eight rebounds, while freshman guard Mike Miles had 16 points and Todd had 10 points.
Cunningham led Oklahoma State with 17 points.
Cunningham got off to a slow start, scoring only two points on 1 of 9 shooting in the opening half. TCU took advantage and had a 37-32 lead at the break.
But Cunningham made a layup on the opening possession of the second half and a few minutes later broke loose for a dunk in transition to tie it at 44-all with 15:03 left. The PA announcer declared “New Ballgame!”
Yes, it became a back-and-forth battle after that.
The Cowboys took a 53-52 lead on a fast-break layup by Isaac Likekele at the 10:07 mark, but the Frogs answered and regained a 55-53 lead on the next possession when Todd knocked down a 3-pointer.
When it felt as though one team may be gaining momentum, the other team responded. Oklahoma State went on a 6-0 run to take a 59-55 lead, highlighted by a steal and fast-break dunk by Williams.
TCU called a timeout to regroup, but turned the ball over — one of 20 on the night — on the ensuing possession. Oklahoma State turned it into an 8-0 run and a 61-55 lead on a layup by Kalib Boone with 7:29 left.
The Frogs made it a one-possession game multiple times down the stretch and finally took the lead in the final seconds on the 9-0 run.
“A great win for us,” Dixon said. “We adjusted late, we went to a four-guard lineup and I thought that was huge for us both offensively and defensively. We were able to come back.”
TCU returns to nonconference action against North Dakota State on Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Schollmaier Arena.
This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 8:27 PM.
