Ohio State Outlasts TCU in Thriller at Coretta Scott King Classic
NEWARK, N.J. - In a game that lived up to its billing, No. 12 Ohio State edged No.
9 TCU, 71-69, in a back-and-forth battle at the Coretta Scott King Classic on Monday. The matchup, played at the Prudential Center as part of a Martin Luther King Jr.
Day doubleheader, had no shortage of storylines - from standout performances to late-game drama - and it delivered on every front.
Senior guard Chance Gray led the way for the Buckeyes with 22 points, knocking down a blistering 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Her final triple, a dagger with 16 seconds left, gave Ohio State a four-point cushion and proved to be the difference in a game that saw eight ties in the fourth quarter alone.
But for Gray, this game was about more than just basketball. The Cincinnati native has deep family ties to the civil rights movement - her great-grandfather, Benjamin Hooks, worked alongside Dr.
King and served as executive director of the NAACP. Playing on this stage, on this holiday, clearly meant something more.
“This is obviously a very important holiday,” Gray said postgame. “I was happy to be a part of it here.”
Gray wasn’t alone in making her mark. Freshman sensation Jaloni Cambridge added 18 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, showcasing her ability to control the game on both ends. Her poise down the stretch was critical, especially when she stepped to the line with 1:10 remaining and sank a free throw to give Ohio State a 67-66 lead - one they wouldn’t relinquish.
Cambridge also iced the game with another clutch free throw after TCU’s Veronica Sheffey buried a three with just 0.3 seconds left to cut the deficit to one. TCU had a chance to tie or win after calling a timeout, but Donovyn Hunter’s turnover as time expired sealed it for the Buckeyes.
Elsa Lemmila added 17 points for Ohio State, which has now won six straight and improved to 17-2 on the season. The Buckeyes are starting to look like a team hitting its stride at the right time.
For TCU, the loss stings - but Olivia Miles put on a show. The graduate transfer from Notre Dame filled the stat sheet with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. It was the 48th time in her career she’s recorded at least 15 points and five assists, a testament to her consistency and all-around impact.
Miles was nearly automatic from the line, going 11-of-12, though she struggled from deep (1-of-7). Still, she kept the Horned Frogs in it all night, especially with a strong fourth quarter push. Playing in front of friends and family who made the trip from her hometown of Phillipsburg, she reminded everyone why she’s one of the most dynamic guards in the country.
Despite the loss, TCU - now 18-2 - showed they can go toe-to-toe with top-tier competition. And if this game is any indication, both of these teams are going to be serious factors come March.
Next up, Ohio State returns home to host Indiana on Thursday, while TCU heads to UCF on Saturday.