SAN DIEGO (AP) — Brock Harding made a go-ahead jumper in the key with 48 seconds left and then hit five free throws in the final 13 seconds for TCU, which rallied to stun No. 10 Florida 84-80 in the first game of the Rady Children’s Invitational on Thursday.
Jace Posey scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half and helped the Horned Frogs rally from a 10-point deficit early in the second half. Harding and David Punch scored 19 apiece for TCU (4-2), which will play the winner of the game between Wisconsin and Providence.
Thomas Haugh and Urban Klavzar scored 20 apiece for the defending national champion Gators (4-2), who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Rueben Chinyelu had 13 points and nine rebounds, just missing his fourth straight double-double.
Florida led 44-39 at halftime and opened a 53-43 lead five minutes into the second half. The Horned Frogs then began their rally behind Posey, whose three-point play pulled them to 57-56.
Posey’s dunk and two free throws gave TCU a 68-67 lead with 7:14 to go before Klavzar hit a 3-pointer and two free throws, and Alex Condon a dunk to give Florida a 74-68 lead with 5:29 left.
Florida went quiet offensively and had three turnovers and the Horned Frogs pulled into a 77-74 lead on Posey’s two free throws with 2:43 left. Florida’s Boogie Fland tied it at 77 on a layup with 1:35 left. TCU had a turnover but got the ball back on Fland’s offensive foul, his fifth, and Harding then hit the winner.
Up next
TCU plays the Wisconsin-Providence winner for the tournament title on Friday.
Florida plays the Wisconsin-Providence loser on Friday.
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Bernie Wilson, The Associated Press
