TCU basketball wins thriller over Oklahoma State, snaps 5-game losing streak
TCU coach Jamie Dixon thought about calling a timeout with 10 seconds left. TCU guard Taryn Todd had just made a defensive stop on Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham and didn’t appear to have an open outlet.
But then Dixon saw junior forward Jaedon LeDee wide open on the other end of the floor. Todd did, too, and heaved a pass down to LeDee, who went to the basket for a layup. LeDee made it while being fouled and converted the old-fashioned three-point play with 2.2 seconds left. That served as the game-winner in TCU’s thrilling 81-78 victory over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night at Schollmaier Arena.
“We had the timeout at the end and when we got the stop and rebound, I was waiting for Taryn to kick it up the floor and they were pressing,” Dixon said. “I was ready to call the timeout, but I saw Jaedon sitting there and got the lay up. Did a great job there.”
TCU (10-7, 3-5 Big 12) snapped a five-game losing streak by sweeping the season series against Oklahoma State (11-5, 4-5 Big 12).
But it wasn’t easy.
Oklahoma State and Cunningham didn’t go down without a fight. Cunningham seemed to become more motivated by chants of “Overrated!” by the student section in the second half, making the shush sign after one made basket.
Cunningham, the likely top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, was held scoreless in the opening half but turned it on in the second half with 19 points. But he made a questionable decision late in the game.
TCU freshman guard Mike Miles tied the game at 78-all on a layup with 17 seconds left. Cunningham had the ball but, rather than play for the last shot, he missed a contested layup against Todd. That’s when Todd eventually found LeDee for the game-winner.
“I couldn’t say we drew it up,” LeDee said. “Taryn played great defense, got the ball and trusted me so he knew throwing it ahead, I’d do the right thing with it.”
LeDee guessed it was his first game-winning shot since high school. TCU junior guard RJ Nembhard never doubted the play once he saw it unfold.
“LeDee in the post? Might as well count a basket,” Nembhard said. “That was a big-time play.”
LeDee finished with eight points and two rebounds. Nembhard had a game-high 20 points with seven assists and five rebounds, while Miles added 18 points.
Cunningham, who had a chance to force overtime at the buzzer but saw his half-court shot miss, led the Cowboys with 19 points.
The game was tied 34-all at halftime with Cunningham playing only eight minutes due to foul trouble. TCU built a 56-46 lead with 12 minutes left, but Oklahoma State rallied and tied the game at 64-all on a free throw by Cunningham with five minutes left. There were five more ties and four lead changes from that point on.
Fortunately for TCU, it got the last lead change on LeDee’s lay up. The Frogs will look to carry this momentum into their game at No. 2 Baylor on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s huge. A five-game losing streak can make or break a team,” Nembhard said. “Sticking together was huge these last two games. We had those last two games in our hands. Our focus in this game was staying locked in for 40 minutes.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2021 at 10:38 PM.
