David Punch helps TCU survive Ohio State scare as March Madness 2026 opens with a last-second finish
david punch was right in the middle of the opening jolt of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament on March 19, 2026 (ET), as TCU slipped past Ohio State 66-64 in the East region. TCU guard Xavier Edmonds finished the job with a shot at the rim with 4. 3 seconds left, sealing the No. 9 Horned Frogs’ upset of the No. 8 Buckeyes. The win mattered because it showed how thin the margin is in March: one late finish, one defensive stand, and one missed heave decided it.
Late winner caps TCU’s 66-64 upset
TCU led 39-24 at halftime after drilling 7-of-13 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes, then had to hold on as the second half flipped. The Horned Frogs cooled off sharply after the break, going 9-of-28 overall in the final 20 minutes and 2-of-10 from behind the arc, and that opened the door for Ohio State to grind its way back into the game.
The Buckeyes erased a 15-point halftime deficit, then grabbed the lead with less than eight minutes to play. Ohio State’s surge included an 11-1 run that put it ahead 55-50 with 6: 19 remaining, but the finish swung back when Edmonds got to the rim for the go-ahead score with 4. 3 seconds left.
Ohio State used its final timeout after the basket, but Bruce Thornton’s half-court shot at the buzzer did not hit the rim. Ohio State also went cold at the worst moment, making just one of its last seven field-goal attempts down the stretch.
David Punch’s double-double anchors TCU’s edge
david punch delivered 16 points and 13 rebounds, giving TCU a steady interior presence as the offense tightened late. He was one of three TCU players in double figures: Edmonds scored 16, and Micah Robinson led all scorers with 18.
Ohio State got a balanced night across its starting group, with all five starters scoring at least 10 points. John Mobley Jr. posted 15 points and six assists, helping fuel the comeback push that turned a lopsided halftime score into a final possession game.
What the opening game showed
The first official game of the tournament delivered the kind of momentum swing teams fear and fans chase: a hot-shooting first half, a long second-half climb, and a final exchange decided in the last five seconds. TCU’s early accuracy from deep created separation, but its second-half decline meant every rebound, every late stop, and every final look suddenly carried extra weight.
What’s next
TCU is expected to move on to a second-round matchup that will likely come against No. 1 Duke on Saturday (ET). After surviving a comeback and a last-possession finish, TCU’s next test will arrive quickly, with david punch and the Horned Frogs carrying this 66-64 escape into the next round.
