Jameer Nelson lifts TCU to dramatic 3OT win at No. 15 Baylor

After battling for three overtime periods, TCU posted a dramatic comeback 105-102 road win over No. 15 Baylor.

After a circus shot gave Baylor a 102-101 lead with 34.1 seconds remaining, Jameer Nelson Jr. came up with the play of the season as he rebounded his own miss and made a putback to put the Horned Frogs in front for good with 10 seconds remaining. Nelson also hit a pair of free throws to ice the game just over a second remaining.

The Horned Frogs trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half, but never let the game get slip away from them as they secured a massive win to keep them off the NCAA Tournament bubble.

“What a game, obviously it came out the way we wanted to,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “We fought through a lot of adversity, we got out-rebounded, they made way more free throws than we did. We just kept battling and kept fighting, we’re kind of developing that. Grit’s been our word for the week.”

It was a season-high 30 points for Nelson, who scored every point for TCU in the final minute. He said it was the brightest moment of his career.

“It’s got to be the best,” Nelson said when asked where the game ranks for him in his career.

Micah Peavy was also key down the stretch with 18 points while Trevian Tennyson added 15. In regards to Peavy, it was his most productive outing in Big 12 play as he showed his two-way potential against the Bears talented group of guards.

“He’s one of the best defenders in the country, hands down,” Miller said. “If he wants to guard guards, bigs, he can. He’s so versatile, he’s so huge for this program with what he does and what he brings. He sets the tone.”

The Horned Frogs improved to 15-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12, while the Bears fell to 14-5, 3-3.

The first two overtimes

After trailing by as many as 10 in the second half, TCU found itself in overtime with Baylor thanks to two clutch corner 3-point goals from Chuck O’Bannon and some timely baskets by Nelson in the final five minutes of regulation.

The Horned Frogs had multiple chances down the stretch in the first overtime period to put the game away, but after Emanuel Miller split a pair of free throws with 8.5 seconds remaining to make it 88-85, Ja’Kobe Walter hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds remaining from the corner after getting Miller in the air with a pump fake.

Down 92-90 midway through the second overtime, Micah Peavy hit a mid-range pull-up to tie the game with a little over three minutes remaining. Walter would put Baylor in front 94-92 with 1:47 remaining after hitting a pair of free throws.

Neither team was able to convert down the stretch leading to the third overtime. Miller said he was proud of the fight the team showed despite their mistakes leaving the door open for Baylor.

“We’re playing some of the highest level basketball you can see in college basketball,” Miller said. “Every possession truly matters, every overtime matters. Every single detail matters. The resiliency of this team, I’m just proud of every person, every player that contributed to this win.”

Handling a five-star

Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter is the latest five-star to suit up for the Bears and there’s a good chance he could become the third straight player selected in the top-20 of the upcoming NBA Draft. In the first half TCU did a tremendous job of slowing down the sharpshooter as Micah Peavy and Trevian Tennyson led the defensive effort on the freshman.

Walter was held to just four points on 1-of-5 shooting including an airball from 3 in the first half and didn’t hit his first until the final seconds of overtime. Walter is known as one of the best shooters in the class, but he was out-done by Tennyson, who continues to look like the best shooter in the Big 12. Despite dealing with foul trouble Tennyson hit four 3-pointers while shooting better than 50 percent from behind the arc.

Nelson is another TCU guard that had a huge game as he came alive for 14 points in the second half and drilled a 3 to start overtime. Nelson did it all in his best game as a Horned Frog from hitting stepback jumpers and tough baskets inside over defenders.

It’s the type of high-level shot making TCU was looking for when they grabbed him out of the transfer portal. Walter finished with 15 points, but was just 2-of-12 from the field.

Missi’s misery

TCU clearly came in with a gameplan Saturday to limit Baylor’s 3-point shooting and while that worked, the Bears pivoted and began attacking the Horned Frogs inside behind Yves Missi. A potential first round pick, the freshman 7-footer was a load to deal with for the Horned Frogs.

TCU’s defensive strategy saw the Horned Frogs try to blitz and trap ballhandlers on the pick-and-roll with a guard and a big, but that left an opening for Missi to slip wide open to the basket continuously. The Bears guards deserve credit for finding him and making those quick decisions which led to easy bucket after bucket. Missi made seven of his first eight shots and also knocked down most of his free throws as TCU had to foul him on multiple occasions to stop easy looks.

When Missi rested, Baylor still had success turning to reserve bigs Caleb Lohner and Josh Ojianwuna, who combined for 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Missi finished with 25 points and nine rebounds.