Emanuel Miller scores 21 and TCU rides hot start to 93-81 win at West Virginia
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Emanuel Miller scored 21 points and TCU rode a hot start to a 93-81 victory over West Virginia on Wednesday night.
Jameer Nelson Jr. added 17 points, Micah Peavy scored 16 and Chuck O’Bannon 11 for TCU (20-10, 9-8 Big 12). The Horned Frogs broke a two-game losing streak and have won 20 games for the sixth time in eight seasons under coach Jamie Dixon.
Jesse Edwards scored a career-high 36 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, RaeQuan Battle added 13 points and Quinn Slazinski scored 11 for West Virginia (9-21, 4-13). All three were honored in a Senior Night ceremony before the game and were greeted as they walked on the floor by former coach Bob Huggins
West Virginia has lost four straight for the second time this season. After Huggins’ messy exit and the naming of Josh Eilert as interim coach last summer, the Mountaineers are heading for their worst record since going 8-20 in the 2001-02 season.
TCU built a double-digit lead in the first half for the second straight game. Unlike an 87-75 loss to No. 20 BYU on Saturday, the Horned Frogs held on this time against the Big 12’s worst defense.
TCU tied a season high with 11 3-pointers and never trailed. Nelson scored the first five points, O’Bannon hit a pair of 3-pointers and TCU raced to a 15-4 lead five minutes into the game.
TCU’s lead grew to 43-20 with 5:29 left in the first half after O’Bannon hit a layup and a 3-pointer a minute apart. The Horned Frogs, who led 53-38 at halftime, shot 64% (18 of 28) from the floor in the first half and 55.6% (30 of 54) for the game.
West Virginia shot the ball better from the floor at 57% (29 of 51) but made just 19 of 34 free throws and only four 3-pointers.
TCU went more than four minutes without a field goal and West Virginia trimmed the deficit to 85-75 on an Edwards free throw with 3:07 left in the game but the Mountaineers got no closer.
TCU hosts UCF in the regular season finale on Saturday while West Virginia plays at Cincinnati.
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