TCU defeats Incarnate Word 69-65
TCU Edges Incarnate Word in Thrilling Comeback Victory
In a dramatic turn of events, TCU (Home) outlasted visiting Incarnate Word 69-65 at Schollmaier Arena on Tuesday night. The Horned Frogs erased a six-point deficit with just over eight minutes remaining to secure the hard-fought victory.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a clear advantage until the final stretch. Incarnate Word led by as many as 14 points in the first half, but TCU's bench proved to be a crucial factor in their comeback.
As the second half got underway, TCU began to chip away at the deficit, with senior guard Mike Sweeney leading the charge. The Fort Worth native scored 12 of his team-high 16 points during this stretch, including two clutch three-pointers that capped off a 7-0 run and cut the deficit to just one point.
"We knew we had to respond to their hot shooting," said TCU head coach Jamie Dixon. "Our bench made some big plays down the stretch, and Mike was instrumental in getting us back in the game."
The Horned Frogs' comeback was fueled by a balanced offense that shot 47.0% from the field, including 60.0% from two-point range. Senior forward Emanuel Miller added 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks to help seal the win.
Incarnate Word's comeback attempt ultimately fell short, as they struggled with their outside shooting, making just 43.0% of their attempts from beyond the arc. The Cardinals' leading scorer, junior guard Jalen Reynolds, finished with 17 points but was unable to will his team to victory.
Advanced Statistics
TCU's eFG% of 50.0% and True Shooting% of 55.6% were key factors in their success, as they dominated the paint and limited Incarnate Word to just 52.6% eFG%. The Horned Frogs also outrebounded their opponents 33-29 and forced 19 turnovers.
For Incarnate Word, advanced metrics like OREB% (24.1%) and TO Ratio (19.4%) told a different story. The Cardinals struggled to contain TCU's fast break attack, which scored 21 points on the evening.
The win marks TCU's first victory in the non-conference schedule, improving their overall record to 2-0. Incarnate Word falls to 3-1.