TCU Edges Ohio State 66 - 64 as Xavier Edmonds Game Winner Sets Up Duke Showdown in March Madness

GREENVILLE, S.C. — TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball secured a dramatic 66 - 64 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball in a first round game of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, with Xavier Edmonds converting a go ahead layup with 4.3 seconds remaining.

The breaking update finish capped a tightly contested game that saw momentum swing sharply in the second half before TCU executed in the final possession to advance.

Edmonds finished with 16 points, while Micah Robinson led the Horned Frogs with 18 points, including four three point shots. David Punch added 16 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring TCU’s interior presence and delivering the decisive pass on the game winning play.

TCU improved to 23 - 11 and advances to face the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball in the Round of 32, setting up a high profile matchup against the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed.

The latest timeline of the game reflects two distinct halves. TCU built a 15 point lead by halftime through efficient offense and physical play inside, but struggled to maintain that level after the break. The Horned Frogs missed 18 of their first 22 shots in the second half, allowing Ohio State to rally and take a 55 - 50 lead with seven minutes remaining.

Bruce Thornton led Ohio State’s comeback effort, hitting a game tying three pointer with 33 seconds left to even the score at 64 - 64. John Mobley Jr. added 15 points as the Buckeyes pushed tempo and increased defensive pressure late.

Following a timeout, TCU executed its final possession through Punch, who drew defensive attention before finding Edmonds near the basket for the decisive layup. Ohio State’s final attempt, a half court shot by Thornton, missed as time expired.

From an impact perspective, the result highlights TCU’s late game execution and composure under pressure. The Horned Frogs responded after losing control of the game in the second half and delivered in a high leverage moment, a key factor in tournament advancement.

For Ohio State, the loss ends a return to the NCAA Tournament after missing the field in recent seasons. The Buckeyes entered the tournament on a four game winning streak and showed resilience in erasing a double digit deficit, but were unable to close in the final seconds.

Historically, games decided by one possession in the opening round often shape bracket volatility, and this result adds to a growing number of tightly contested matchups in the 2026 tournament field.

The outlook now shifts to TCU’s upcoming game against Duke, which narrowly avoided an upset in its own first round matchup. The next steps for TCU will center on improving second half shot selection and maintaining offensive efficiency against a higher seeded opponent.

For Ohio State, the focus turns to offseason development and roster continuity, with the program aiming to build on its return to March Madness and improve late game execution moving forward.