FORT WORTH, Texas — How would No. 17 TCU respond after the heartbreaking setback to Texas on the road Wednesday?
With its best effort of the season. The Horned Frogs smoked No. 11 Kansas State, 82-68, on Saturday afternoon in front of a lively Schollmaier Arena crowd.
TCU trailed 11-6 early in the first half, but a 10-0 run would put the Horned Frogs in front for good. It was TCU’s defense that stood tall against a Kansas State offense that was averaging almost 80 points per game.
The Wildcats didn’t reach half that total until midway through the second half as TCU held a commanding 63-41 lead with under 10 minutes remaining. What a difference a few days make.
The Horned Frogs allowed the Longhorns to score 50 points in the second half to overcome an 18-point deficit, but didn’t have the same problem against Kansas State despite being without top defender Micah Peavy for the second straight game.
TCU led by as many as 25 points in the second half, but Kansas State made one final desperate push in the final five minutes. The Wildcats went on a quick 7-1 run to make it 74-59 with 3:22 remaining in the game. Markquis Nowell would eventually make it a 12-point game, 76-64, with a deep 3 with 2:36 remaining.
In the end, the run wasn’t enough. Mike Miles Jr. got a late steal and score to make it 82-66 with under a minute to go.
Emanuel Miller led TCU with a season-high 23 points while Miles produced the first double-double of his career with 13 points and 11 assists.
Miller’s mission
Miller said TCU was being challenged after losing back-to-back games for the first time this season when the Horned Frogs squandered an 18-point lead at No. 10 Texas. Miller was determined to not let the same thing happen again against another top-15 squad.
Miller was aggressive throughout, leading the team in shot attempts (17) and rebounds (8). Miller had 11 points in the first half and opened the second half with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 46-29. Miller drained another 3-pointer with just under eight minutes to play to increase TCU’s lead to 66-43.
Miller showed off the complete arsenal as he knocked down two 3-pointers, hit a number of mid-range jumpers and was a constant threat in transition. Miller’s bucket with 2:06 remaining clinched the game for TCU after Kansas State tried to make one last push.
He scored 20-plus points for the fourth time this season and continues to play at an all-conference level.
Miles the floor general
Miles has been a bucket this year as the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year is currently second in the conference in scoring. Against the Wildcats, Miles showed off his skills as a facilitator with his shot not falling early.
Miles dished eight assists in the first half with four going to Lampkin, who had a breakout game against the top-ranked Wildcats. When he wasn’t throwing dimes to Lampkin, it was Miller who was his favorite target. Miles found Miller on back-to-back possessions to put TCU ahead 38-26. With his teammates in a rhythm, Miles started to cook as a scorer.
He sized up a defender with a crossover and then attacked downhill, hitting a floater while being fouled for a three-point play to give TCU a 41-26 lead. Miles had seven points and eight assists in the first half. He continued dishing out assists in the second half including two straight to Miller, who knocked down a 3 and then a mid-range jumper near the baseline.
Miles hit double digit points by slithering through the Kansas State defense for a layup to put TCU ahead by 23. It was Miles’ first career double-double, and showed us why he’s one of the best guards in the country.
Lampkin unguardable
The TCU big man had one of his best games of the season as he was engaged on both sides of the court early. Lampkin scored TCU’s first points of the game and threw down a dunk to tie at 6 early in the first half. But that was just a preview of what was to come.
After the Horned Frogs battled back from an early deficit, Lampkin was the driving force behind the team turning the tide. Lampkin hit two more quick buckets inside to make it 18-13 and then he drew a flagrant foul against a frustrated Wildcats defense.
With under five minutes remaining in the first half, Lampkin continued to thrive inside as Miles dished a no-look pass to him in traffic that led to another easy layup. It was his fourth straight made basket and pushed TCU ahead 32-21. Lampkin had 13 points and made six of his first seven shots in the first half to lead TCU to a 43-29 halftime lead.
He finished with 17 points and six rebounds.
