Yaxel Lendeborg posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Trey McKenney made several clutch plays down the stretch and No. 6 Michigan rallied for a 67-63 victory over TCU on Friday night in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Wolverines (3-0) prevailed, overcoming a game in which they had 22 turnovers. They did so by dominating inside, winning the rebounding battle 44-23 and outscoring the Frogs in the paint 36-26. Michigan finished shooting 43.4% from the field and 31.3% from 3-point range.
TCU (2-2) was led by Brock Harding’s 15 points. Micah Robinson added 12, and Tanner Toolson chipped in with 10. The Frogs shot 37.1% from the field and 29.2% from 3-point range.
It was a tight game throughout with Michigan taking control in the final seven minutes, starting with a three-point play by McKenney with 6:24 left. McKenney made a layup while being fouled, and then knocked in his free throw to put Michigan up 52-51.
After TCU missed a 3-pointer, Michigan extended its lead to 54-51 on a layup by Morez Johnson Jr. McKenney, who finished with 11 points, then knocked down a trey with 5:01 remaining to put Michigan up 57-51.
TCU stayed within striking distance, though. With 58 seconds left, the Frogs pulled to within 63-61 on a layup by Jayden Pierre. They had a chance to tie or take the lead following a Michigan turnover with 36 seconds left.
Toolson missed a jumper with 23 seconds left and Michigan’s Nimari Burnett converted a pair of free throws with 18.3 seconds left for a 65-61 lead. Lendeborg then sealed the game by making two free throws with 7.5 seconds left.
Along with Lendeborg, Johnson also posted a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Wolverines. McKenney finished with 11 points, and Roddy Gayle Jr. recorded 10 and a game-best six assists.
Michigan was the highest-ranked nonconference team to visit TCU since No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 1, 2003.
