JaKobe Coles' heroics lifts TCU past Arizona State in NCAA tournament opener

DENVER — TCU rallied from an 11-point deficit to stun Arizona State, 72-70, in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday night.

With two seconds remaining JaKobe Coles hit a running laying up in the lane to complete one of the biggest comebacks of the day.

At one point it seemed like Arizona State was going to be on the verge of blowing TCU out of Ball Arena, but Mike Miles Jr. refused to let his team go home in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

TCU fell behind by double digits early in the second half, but with 4:20 remaining, TCU cut the deficit to 65-60, after a Chuck O’Bannon 3-pointer. Miles made it 67-64 with a tough layup inside with just over two minutes remaining.

Next, Miles drew a charge on the next Sun Devils’ possession to get TCU the ball back with 2:01 remaining.

Miles found an open Damion Baugh for the tying 3-pointer in the corner and Baugh would later add two free throws to put TCU ahead 69-67 with 34.7 seconds remaining.

Arizona State had a chance to tie it, but missed a shot at the rim as Miles secured the rebound.

The star guard split the free throws giving TCU a 70-67 edge. The drama wasn’t done as DJ Horne hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie at 70 with 12.4 seconds remaining setting up the moment for Coles.

Miles did what was expected of him as he was the best player on the floor. Miles came out hot scoring 16 points in the first half including two 3-pointers. In the second half Miles had to grit through pain to help TCU try to overcome an 11-point deficit.

He did a little bit of everything in the second half to try and keep TCU alive. He made clutch baskets in the final five minutes, blocked a would-be dunk by a much taller Arizona State player and even drew a charge late in the game.

...continued

swipe to next page