Should the initial sanctioned contest of the 2026 men’s collegiate basketball championship indicate future events, the excitement of March is set to be exceptionally high this tournament.
Xavier Edmonds of TCU scored a basket from close range with a mere 4.3 seconds remaining, securing a 66-64 victory for the ninth-seeded Horned Frogs against the eighth-seeded Ohio State in the East bracket.
Edmonds’ decisive point came following Ohio State’s rally from a 15-point disadvantage at the half, managing to seize the lead with under eight minutes remaining in the game.
Following Edmonds’ critical score, Ohio State used its last timeout, yet Bruce Thornton’s attempt from mid-court as time expired did not connect with the hoop.
TCU held a 39-24 advantage at intermission, having made 7 out of 13 attempts from beyond the three-point line during the initial twenty minutes. Nevertheless, the Horned Frogs’ performance declined significantly in the latter half, connecting on only 9 of 28 total shots and 2 of 10 from long range in the concluding twenty minutes.
This diminished accuracy enabled Ohio State to progressively reduce the gap. The Buckeyes initiated an 11-1 scoring surge, securing a 55-50 lead with 6 minutes and 19 seconds remaining, but they were unable to maintain their advantage in the closing moments. Ohio State converted merely one of their final seven field goal attempts.
Edmonds concluded the game with 16 points, making him one of three TCU athletes to achieve a double-digit score. Micah Robinson was the leading scorer overall with 18 points, while David Punch also contributed 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Every starter for Ohio State registered a minimum of 10 points, with John Mobley Jr. contributing 15 points and six assists. TCU is anticipated to face top-seeded Duke in the subsequent round scheduled for Saturday.
