The TCU Horned Frogs are on a roll, winning four of their last five games and extending their home streak to three with a 90-78 victory over Arizona State. This game was anything but ordinary, marked by a whopping 52 fouls and a second-half delay that stretched over 10 minutes. Yet, amidst the chaos, TCU held their ground and showcased their dominance.
Xavier Edmonds wasted no time making his presence felt, scoring TCU’s first eight points and grabbing two rebounds in just over four minutes. Despite his hot start, Arizona State kept pace, taking an 11-10 lead with a Maurice Odum three-pointer. The Sun Devils maintained their lead for a stretch, but Tanner Toolson's free throw tied it up at 18.
The momentum began to shift as TCU found their rhythm. Micah Robinson’s and-one play gave the Frogs a six-point lead with just over three minutes left in the half.
Arizona State kept it close, though, narrowing the gap to 29-28. Liutauras Lelevicius then stepped up, scoring the last four points of the half to give TCU a 33-30 advantage at the break.
The second half started with a quick strike from Arizona State, but TCU responded with back-to-back threes from Edmonds and Robinson, quickly building a seven-point lead. Edmonds, however, found himself in foul trouble, picking up two early in the half, which limited his impact. A brief on-court scuffle led to a nearly 15-minute delay, during which Malick Diallo was ejected for leaving the bench.
After the dust settled, Arizona State tried to close the gap, but TCU wasn't about to let their lead slip away. Holding a slim 46-44 edge, the Frogs launched a 12-2 run, pushing their lead to 12 points with just under 12 minutes left. They continued to apply pressure, stretching the lead to 67-49.
Arizona State made a late push, cutting the deficit to single digits with just over two minutes remaining. However, TCU sealed the deal at the free-throw line, hitting eight of their last nine attempts to clinch the win.
In a foul-heavy contest, TCU capitalized at the line, scoring nearly a third of their points there with a 28-of-40 performance. Arizona State went 17-of-23 from the stripe.
TCU shot 42.1% from the field and 34.7% from deep, while Arizona State hit 45.9% overall but struggled from three, shooting just 25.0%. The Frogs also forced 13 turnovers, converting them into 15 points.
Robinson led the charge with 20 points and eight rebounds, shooting efficiently from both the field and beyond the arc. Edmonds contributed 17 points and six rebounds despite limited minutes due to fouls.
Brock Harding’s double-double of 10 points and 11 assists was notable, even as he struggled from the field. Lelevicius and Toolson added valuable points and free throws off the bench.
For Arizona State, Odum was the standout with 21 points and 10 assists. Johnson added 18 points, while Diop contributed 13. Despite their efforts, the Sun Devils fell short against a determined TCU squad.