Ohio State snatched a nail-biting MLK Day victory, with clutch shooting and grit overpowering TCU's relentless attack in a game for the ages.
On a stage built for moments bigger than basketball, Ohio State and TCU delivered a thriller worthy of the setting.
In the Coretta Scott King Classic on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Buckeyes leaned on timely shooting, steady nerves, and a little late-game grit to escape with a 71-69 win over the Horned Frogs in Newark.
Ohio State never found full separation, and honestly, neither did TCU.
The fourth quarter felt like a tug-of-war, with the lead changing hands and the game tied eight different times. Every possession mattered. Every bounce felt loud.
Chance Gray was the calm in the chaos.
The senior guard caught fire from deep, knocking down six of her eight attempts from beyond the arc and finishing with 22 points.
More than that, she embraced the meaning of the day.
Gray, whose great-grandfather worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke afterward about the pride of playing in a game that honored both legacy and progress. It showed in her composure.
Jaloni Cambridge orchestrated the offense like a conductor who never rushed the tempo.
She scored 18 points, handed out eight assists, grabbed six rebounds, and delivered the go-ahead free throw with just over a minute left.
When Gray buried a clutch three with 16 seconds remaining, it felt like the defining blow, even though TCU wasn’t done yet.
The Horned Frogs had answers all night. Olivia Miles put on a show, stuffing the stat sheet with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
She attacked relentlessly, lived at the free-throw line, and kept TCU within striking distance despite a rough shooting night from deep.
Playing in front of friends and family, she looked every bit like the moment belonged to her.
But turnovers told the story. TCU gave the ball away 20 times, and in a one-possession game, that margin is unforgiving.
One final chance slipped away in the closing seconds, sealing a hard-earned Ohio State win.
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t clean. But on a day meant to honor resilience, Ohio State proved just tough enough when it mattered most.