Pierre scores 18 to lift TCU past Cincinnati, 73-63

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Jayden Pierre had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, Liutauras Lelevicius added 14 points, and TCU took down Cincinnati 73-63 in a regular-season finale for both teams.

David Punch scored 13 points, dished seven assists and grabbed three steals for the Horned Frogs (21-10, 11-7 Big 12). It was their fifth straight win, setting a new program-best in Big 12 play.

Pierre was 7-for-11 from the field, and the Frogs shot 44% overall and 27% from deep. Cincinnati shot 44% and 42%, respectively.

The game was back-and-forth for much of the first half, with neither team leading by more than four points. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Micah Robinson sent the Horned Frogs to the locker room up 32-29.

TCU pulled away in the second half with an early 9-0 run that put them ahead 45-35, and it led by double-figures for most of the final frame. The Frogs did not make a basket in the last 3:28, but went 10-for-12 from the charity stripe to secure the win.

Day Day Thomas led the Bearcats (17-14, 9-9) with 19 points (7-of-14 shooting), four rebounds and two blocks. Baba Miller hauled in 14 rebounds as Cincinnati won the glass battle, 37-30.

Up next

Cincinnati: No. 9 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, will face 16th-seeded Utah in the first round on Tuesday.

TCU: No. 6 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, will face the winner of 11th-seeded Colorado and 14th-seeded Oklahoma State in the second round on Wednesday.

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