TCU is fighting to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive as it hosts Arizona State in a pivotal Big 12 matchup in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs, sitting at 17-10 overall and 7-7 in conference play, have found their rhythm, winning four of their last five games. Their latest triumph, a gritty 60-54 win over West Virginia, showcased their resilience after a tough 82-71 loss to UCF earlier in the week.
Xavier Edmonds and Liutauras Lelevicius each put up 14 points in the victory, while David Punch added 12, including a crucial seven points during a late 17-5 run that sealed the deal for TCU. The Horned Frogs' defense was relentless, holding West Virginia to just two points in the final 5:42 and forcing 16 turnovers.
"We had to battle, and we came a long way again," TCU coach Jamie Dixon remarked. "Our defense carried us. We made them take tough shots, but I wish our offense had clicked earlier."
Lelevicius was particularly effective in the first half, contributing all his points before halftime. "I know I gotta shoot when I'm open," he explained. "You get used to that role as you play more with the team."
On the other side, Arizona State enters the contest after a narrow 73-68 loss at Baylor. The Sun Devils, now 14-13 and 5-9 in the Big 12, had been on a two-game winning streak, including a notable victory over then-No.
13 Texas Tech. However, the loss to Baylor was a setback for coach Bobby Hurley's squad.
Anthony Johnson led Arizona State with 20 points off the bench, while Maurice Odum contributed 12 points. Massamba Diop recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Allen Mukeba also scored 10. Despite a tied game at 61 with just over three minutes left, the Sun Devils couldn't close it out.
"We'll be working on end-of-the-game situations for the next few days," Hurley noted, emphasizing the need for improvement in crunch time.
Arizona State faces a crucial stretch, likely needing to win its remaining four regular-season games to secure a first-round bye in the Big 12 tournament. "We stick together and have been getting some quality wins that boost our confidence," said guard Noah Meeusen.
As both teams vie for postseason positioning, this matchup promises to be a telling chapter in their respective seasons.