TCUs Undefeated Start Suddenly Comes With A Real Concern

In a nail-biter that went to double overtime, TCU's men's basketball team fought off a determined UL Monroe to maintain their perfect start to the season.

TCU had to work for every inch of this one, and then some.

The Horned Frogs survived a wild 100-92 double-overtime battle against UL Monroe, shaking off an early wobble and a string of late-game punches from the Warhawks to stay unbeaten at 3-0. What looked like a comfortable finish never really materialized until the second overtime turned sharply in TCU’s favor.

The game was knotted at 29 at the four-minute TV timeout, with TCU shooting 9 of 24 from the field and getting beat on the glass by six. The Frogs did manage to steady themselves before halftime, closing on a 12-3 burst to take a 41-32 lead into the break.

That cushion didn’t last. UL Monroe came out swinging in the second half, ripping off a 13-2 run to grab a 53-52 lead with 14:27 left. From there, regulation turned into a back-and-forth grind, with one run after another getting answered.

The final minute of the second half delivered the kind of chaos that defined the night. Micah Robinson picked off an inbound pass and got fouled with 42 seconds left, then knocked down both free throws to tie the game at 81. UL Monroe answered right back when Dayjaun Anderson finished a layup with 26 seconds remaining to put the Warhawks ahead 83-81.

TCU still had a response. Brock Harding missed a layup, but Robinson cleaned it up with an offensive rebound and putback to make it 83-83. After a TCU timeout, Anderson drove the floor but stepped out with 1.2 seconds left, and Harding’s half-court heave missed to send the game to overtime.

The first extra period stayed tense and messy. Robinson opened the scoring with an and-1 floater, though he missed the free throw.

Anderson tied it with a layup, and after a TCU timeout Robinson struck again with another and-1 floater, again missing the free throw. Khalil London then answered with a step-back jumper to make it 87-87.

TCU had chances to end it. Gavin Sykes missed a three but grabbed the rebound, then Harding missed a layup, giving UL Monroe another shot.

Anderson was whistled for an offensive foul, and the Frogs had five seconds to win it. They couldn’t convert, and the game rolled into a second overtime.

That’s where TCU finally took control. Xavier Edmonds started the period by making one of two free throws, but Jean Lafleur dunked off a Robert Cowherd assist to put UL Monroe back in front 89-88. Edmonds answered with a putback and then blocked Anderson’s layup on the other end, setting up Robinson’s driving layup for a 92-89 TCU lead with 2:56 left.

DJ Thomas added free throws to give the Frogs their first two-possession lead since 14:50 remained in the second half. Then came the sequence that put the game away: after a UL Monroe turnover, Warhawks coach Ryan Cross drew two technicals, and Sykes hit three of four free throws to push TCU ahead 97-89.

From there, the Frogs closed it out.

Robinson led the way with a career-high 27 points. Edmonds finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Harding added 14 points and eight assists.

Harding called the game a wake-up call, and Jamie Dixon said he hopes his team learns from the close finish. Robinson said TCU’s late-game poise comes from a four-minute drill the team runs in practice that focuses on execution in tight moments.

TCU will host Milwaukee at 7 p.m. on Friday on ESPN+.

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