TCU point guard Mike Miles Jr. injured in loss at Mississippi State

No. 11 TCU lost more than its men’s basketball game at Mississippi State on Saturday in Starkville.

The Horned Frogs lost leading sorer Mike Miles Jr. to an apparent right knee injury in the 81-74 overtime loss in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge at the Humphrey Coliseum.

Mikes had to be helped off the court after suffering the injury early in the game. He did not score in his four minutes played. He excited to the locker room and later returned, sitting on the TCU bench with his right leg raised.

The Horned Frogs also played with out starting center Eddie Lampkin and reserve guard Rondell Walker with injuries.

“No excuses,” said TCU head coach Jamie Dixon. “Like I told my guys, you have to find a way. You don’t get outrebounded by nine (42-33) and that’s not the answer. It didn’t go our way. We came in with some guys down but you have to be prepared. That happens to everybody and you have to find a way to get it done.”

The two teams were tied at 66 after regulation. Mississippi State then outscored TCU 15-8 in overtime to break a five-game losing streak. The Bulldogs improved to 13-8; the Horned Frogs fell to 16-5.

Damion Baugh led TCU with 19 points, Emanuel Miller added 13 while Jakobe Coles and Shahada Wells had 12 each.

The Bulldogs’ 6-foot-11 forward Tolu Smith had a game-high 27 points, doubling his season average, as he took advantage of the inside absence of Lampkin.

Dashawn Davis added 16 points; Shakeel Moore had 11, including six in overtime, while Cameron Matthews had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Tyler Stevenson also added 10 points off the Bulldogs’ bench.

“For me it was an exhale,” said Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans. “For the guys it was super-excited, joyous, celebrating a win. We didn’t address it that much. I told them how proud I was of them during this stretch because it’s real easy to start listening to noise and other people. I understand how that works and you start questioning things. But they kept with it.”

Smith was 9 of 11 from the field and 4 of 6 at the foul line against TCU. He also added four blocked shots in his 36 minutes of action.

“We’ve been in those situations before, especially recently against Alabama,” said Smith. “I have some amazing teammates and win, lose or draw, we have to keep going. But it was good to exhale with that win, for us and our fans and our program.”

Davis’ 3 pointer with 55 seconds left in the second half gave the Bulldogs a 66-64 advantage. Miller scored with 32 seconds remaining and then both teams missed chances to win in regulation.

Mississippi State took the lead for good in overtime thanks to back to back 3 pointers from Moore.

Mississippi State controlled most of the first half and led 23-11 after a Dashawn Davis 3 pointer with 7:14 left in the half. The Bulldogs led 30-19 headed down the final minutes of the opening half but TCU cut the deficit to 31-25 at halftime.

TCU shot just 34% in the first half and made just 2 of 10 behind the 3 point arc. Both teams had seven turnovers and Mississippi State held a 21-15 rebounding edge in the first half.

UP NEXT

TCU: On Tuesday, the Horned Frogs host West Virginia.

Mississippi State: On Tuesday, the Bulldogs travel to South Carolina.

Star-Telegram staff writers contributed to this Associated Press story.

This story was originally published January 28, 2023 at 3:34 PM.