JaKobe Coles and Emanuel Miller lead TCU to 75-57 victory over Cincinnati
.jpg "TCU forward Emanuel Miller (4) smiles after getting a put back layup during the second half of the Big XII match up between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.")
TCU evened the season series with Cincinnati with a dominating 75-57 win over the Bearcats on Saturday at Schollmaier Arena.
For the second straight Big 12 game, TCU found itself with a double-digit lead with about 7 minutes remaining. Unlike the debacle in Lubbock, the Horned Frogs didn’t squander a lead, they built it up.
“This was a very good team we beat by a good margin,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. “It was a good team effort.”
With 8:21 remaining the Horned Frogs held a 63-51 lead, and that was when the decisive run was finally delivered by TCU. The Horned Frogs used a 12-2 surge to put the Bearcats away. The fastbreak was a big reason as the Horned Frogs scored four straight buckets in transition, including a smooth reverse layup by Trevian Tennyson.
By the time the run was over, the game was no longer in doubt with TCU leading 75-53. With the victory, the Horned Frogs moved back into fifth place in the Big 12 standings, and TCU is still vying for the double bye in the Big 12 Tournament.
“Throughout the year we struggled with closing out games,” TCU’s Emanuel Miller said. “Down the stretch, like during the last media timeout opposing teams have somehow found a way to get back in the game, and this game it was a big emphasis. We wanted to impose our will from the jump to the finish.”
Miller had one of his most complete games of the year with 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals while knocking down two 3s and making all six of his free throws. TCU is next set to face Baylor at 8 p.m. Monday at Schollmaier Arena.
Coles is back
There should be no more doubt about whether JaKobe Coles is back to 100 percent. Coles on Saturday had his best game since December and showcased the ability he showed during TCU’s non-conference schedule. Coles was a master of the mid-range, knocking down jump shots all over the court.
“I feel good, I feel good,” Coles said. “My team and my coaches always give me confidence. It’s just about coming in and making sure we execute on offense and defense. Coming into the game I’m always confident, and when you’re confident shots go in. That’s how I see it.”
After starting the game with 11 first-half points, Coles continued to be effective in the second half. When the Bearcats tried to go to zone defense to try to slow TCU down, Coles became the zone breaker. Working from the free-throw line, Coles hit back-to-back 15-foot jumpers that increased TCU’s lead to 67-53.
Coles’ contribution was much needed with the Horned Frogs still being without starting center Ernest Udeh. Against one of the tallest front courts in the league, Coles delivered when it mattered most. He finished with 18 points and was voted Player of the Game. It was the most he’s scored in a game since his 20-point outing against Alcorn State on Nov. 21.
Sniper Frogs
The Bearcats’ 3-point shooting allowed them to keep up with TCU in the first half. But the Horned Frogs turned the tables in the second half with clutch 3 after clutch 3. Miller started the shooting surge when he knocked down his second 3 of the game from the left baseline corner that gave TCU a 44-36 lead with 16:48 remaining.
After the Bearcats cut the lead to four, Coles responded with another 3 that moved TCU’s lead to 47-40. Then it was Tennyson and Jameer Nelson’s turns. The transfer guards hit back-to-back 3s that gave the Horned Frogs a 55-44 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining. Tennyson hit another 3 off the dribble that gave TCU its biggest lead of the afternoon, 63-46, with under 10 minutes remaining.
The Horned Frogs cooled off in the final 10 minutes, but the damage had been done. Last year the Horned Frogs were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the nation at 31% percent that ranked them in the 300s. among Division-I teams. This season, the Horned Frogs are just outside the top 100 and capable of winning Big 12 games with their outside shooting.
Deja Vu at the start
As was the case in the first matchup in Cincinnati, the Horned Frogs’ offense was clicking on all cylinders at the start of the game. TCU hit its first three shots, including back-to-back 3-pointers from Avery Anderson, in jumping to a 8-0 lead. It was a promising start as TCU made another lineup change with Anderson starting in place of Tennyson to go along with Micah Peavy, Xavier Cork and Miller.
“We know they’re hungry, they’re a tournament team and a good team to get a win against,” Miller said. “We knew we had to fight from the jump, we went on a 8-0 run quick because we knew this team was hungry and we needed to impose our will from the jump.”
Despite the hot start, the Bearcats were able to settle into the game after a wise timeout by head coach Wes Miller. Cincinnati actually took a 23-20 as TCU went over three minutes without scoring. The drought was short-lived, though, as TCU came out of a timeout surging on a 11-1 run sparked by Miller. Miller started the run with two free throws and then knocked down a big 3-pointer that made it 27-23.
The lead would eventually grow to double digits as Coles started to get going. He hit a 3-pointer in transition after the defense forced a steal and then scored four more points to increase the Horned Frogs’ advantage to 38-28.
TCU took a 39-32 lead into halftime after holding the Bearcats under 40% shooting while Miller and Coles combined for 20 first-half points.
This story was originally published February 24, 2024 at 4:23 PM.
