Xavier Edmonds delivered a career-best 26 points, including six crucial free throws in the final moments, to lead TCU to an 84-82 victory over Kansas State on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. Edmonds drained the game-tying and go-ahead free throws with just six seconds remaining, giving TCU an 83-82 edge after a Kansas State rally that had put the Wildcats ahead by five with 90 seconds left. Earlier, he made two free throws with 1:10 on the clock and followed with a dunk at 35 seconds to bring the Horned Frogs within one point.
Kansas State’s Kamari McGriff sparked hope with an alley-oop dunk that put the Wildcats ahead 82-77 with a minute and a half to go. However, Kansas State was unable to score again and turned over the ball on their last three possessions. Micah Robinson sealed the win by making one of two free throws with two seconds left, finalizing the score.
Edmonds was nearly perfect from the field, finishing 9-for-10, went 7-for-13 from the free-throw line, and pulled down 10 rebounds, marking his fifth consecutive double-double. Teammates Micah Robinson, David Punch, and Jayden Pierre contributed 16, 14, and 10 points respectively for TCU, which now holds a 14-9 overall record and 4-6 in Big 12 play.
For Kansas State, PJ Haggerty poured in 30 points, Marcus Johnson added 15 points, Nate Johnson recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and David Castillo chipped in 11 points. The Wildcats fell to 10-13 overall and 1-10 in conference games.
Marcus Johnson’s hot start, hitting his first four three-pointers, helped Kansas State jump out to a 29-14 lead early on. Although TCU rallied with a 15-2 run late in the first half, Kansas State led 46-42 at the break. Haggerty’s eight consecutive points early in the second half pushed the Wildcats’ lead to 64-53, and they maintained a double-digit advantage, 78-68, with just over five minutes remaining.
This win marked TCU’s fourth straight victory over Kansas State. Looking ahead, the Horned Frogs will face No. 7 Iowa State on Tuesday, while Kansas State returns home to take on Cincinnati on Wednesday.
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Fan Take: This thrilling finish highlights the intensity and unpredictability that makes college basketball so exciting for fans. Edmonds’ clutch performance could be a turning point for TCU’s season, emphasizing how individual brilliance paired with team resilience can reshape the dynamics in a competitive conference like the Big 12.
