LAS VEGAS — Wyoming, pack the bags and go home; TCU, stay another day.
The ninth-seeded Horned Frogs defeated eighth-seeded Wyoming 70-61 Tuesday to advance to face top-seeded BYU in the Mountain West Conference tournament quarterfinals. Led by J.R. Cadot, who finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, TCU had three players in double figures.
“We had some guys do some things they haven’t done in similar situations,” TCU’s head coach Jim Christian said. “Take charge, get a big steal, show composure and finish in the end. Really proud of them.”
The Horned Frogs entered Tuesday’s contest with a 13-game losing streak and had bowed out in the first round of the tournament the last three years. TCU improved to 11-2 this season when scoring 70 or more points. Cadot reached double digits for the seventh consecutive game.
“I challenged him with one thing,” Christian said. “I pulled him aside in the hotel and said, ‘The only thing I want you to be is the hardest-playing guy on the floor.’”
Wyoming played catchup the entire first half and was down 24-27 going into the second. But TCU had trouble breaking away and allowed Wyoming to take a 42-41 lead with 13 minutes left.
TCU answered with a 9-0 run and led by 13 points late in the game.
TCU’s Hank Thorns scored 13 points and responded with tenacious leadership after Wyoming claimed the lead.
“Basketball is a game of runs, so we knew they’re (Wyoming) going to make a run, but we have to make a run, too,” Thorns said. “For me to be a team leader, I have to be patient. I have to show the team by example. I can’t just say it. I have to go out there and show it as well.”
For Wyoming, the loss ends a disappointing season, in which its head coach Heath Schroyer was fired midway through the conference schedule.
Francisco Cruz led Wyoming with 14 points.
“We turned the ball over a lot,” Cruz said. “In the end, I think they played harder than us. I think that was the difference in the game.”
The Horned Frogs immediately turned their attention toward preparing for National Player of the Year candidate Jimmer Fredette. BYU beat TCU by 17 at home and 23 on the road this season.
“We have to come out, execute our game plan,” Christian said. “They’re very good in zone, and they have a lot more depth than we have. I’ll trade ’em. I’m just kidding.”
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