TCU’s last non-conference tune-up turned into more of a grind than a showcase, but the Horned Frogs still found a way to finish the job Friday night at Schollmaier Arena.
TCU beat Milwaukee 76-64, a result that looked comfortable only after the Horned Frogs finally shook loose in the closing minutes. The Panthers hung around far longer than expected, especially after TCU had needed double overtime to get past Louisiana-Monroe three days earlier.
Now the real test arrives Thursday, when TCU hosts Texas A&M. It will be the Horned Frogs’ first game against a high major opponent, and it could also be the debut for Saint Louis transfer center Robbie Avila. The former Atlantic-10 Player of the Year did not play against Milwaukee.
For much of the night, Milwaukee made TCU work for every inch. The opening half was tight throughout, with neither team able to build more than a five-point cushion. TCU carried a 36-33 lead into halftime, but the game never felt settled.
The Horned Frogs seemed ready to create separation early in the second half. Xavier Edmonds and DJ Thomas did most of the damage inside, combining for eight of TCU’s first 11 points after the break. That pushed the lead to 47-37 with 16:45 left.
Then the offense stalled.
TCU went more than eight minutes with only one field goal, and Milwaukee took advantage by trimming the margin to 53-50 with 10:03 to play. The Horned Frogs also spent much of the night fighting the perimeter game, making just three of their first 16 3-point attempts.
The breakthrough finally came in the final seven minutes, when TCU put together the run that Milwaukee couldn’t answer. Tanner Toolson punctuated it with a dunk, Edmonds followed with a long two-pointer, and Gavin Sykes buried a long 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 63-52 with six minutes left.
Brock Harding then slammed the door with a turnaround fadeaway jumper that made it 73-59 with 2:01 remaining.
Edmonds, a preseason All-Big 12 forward, led the way with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Thomas finished with 15 points, Harding added 13 points and seven assists, and Robinson and Sykes chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
TCU also tightened up defensively after halftime. Milwaukee shot 48% in the first half, but the Panthers were held to 34% after the break.
The Horned Frogs are still unbeaten, but they know the margin for error shrinks quickly from here. Texas A&M comes in averaging 99.2 points per game, and former Horned Frog PJ Haggerty leads an Aggies offense that ranks among the nation’s best.
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