RJ Nembhard racked up 15 points to lead four TCU players in double-figure scoring as the Horned Frogs overwhelmed visiting Winthrop 70-60 on Wednesday in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Horned Frogs led for all but the early portion of the game, stretching a five-point advantage at the break to 19 in the final three minutes with balanced scoring and great shooting (56.7 percent) in the second half.
Jaire Grayer hit for 12 points while Jaedon LeDee and Desmond Bane added 11 points each for TCU (7-2). The Horned Frogs' two losses this season have come on neutral courts and by a combined four points, 62-60 to Clemson in overtime and 80-78 to USC.
Josh Ferguson led the Eagles (4-6) with 14 points. Hunter Hale added 11 points and Chandler Vaudrin pulled down 10 rebounds for Winthrop, which lost its third game in a row.
TCU led by as many as 11 points late in the first half before the Eagles scored eight of the period's final 10 points to stay within striking distance.
Defense dominated the game in the first half, after which the Horned Frogs led 31-26. TCU shot just 39.3 percent in the half but that was far better than the Eagles, who managed to make just 9 of 31 shots (29 percent) and were only 3-for-16 from beyond the arc.
LeDee led all scorers with 10 points while Michael Anumba and Hale scored six points each for Winthrop over the first 20 minutes.
The Eagles made a serious run at TCU through the first nine minutes of the second half, drawing to within 44-40 on a layup by Chase Claxton with 10:38 to play.
But the Horned Frogs solely pulled away, using buckets by PJ Fuller and Nembhard to build their lead back to 59-46 heading into the final six minutes.
--Field Level Media
