PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Amric Fields needed only one game to prove he is back. The 6-foot-9-inch junior came off the bench and scored 16 points and blocked a last-minute shot to help TCU beat Washington State 64-62 on Sunday.
“When I learned that I was going to be able to play today, I just wanted to leave it all on the court and help my team,” Fields said. “This is like a family and it ate me up inside not being able to help them last year and in the first couple of games.”
Plagued by a knee injury, Fields missed all of last season and the first three games of this season. He shot 7 of 9 from the field and connected on two 3-pointers in 26 minutes of play for TCU (2-2).
“Amric was able to play, I was a little worried, he could have played against Abilene Christian, but I have to make sure when he is out there he is comfortable, and he was tonight, ” TCU head coach Trent Johnson said. “This is a good team we beat tonight. He helped.”
After being down 13 in the first half, Washington State chipped away at the TCU lead in the second. DaVonte Lacy hit his fifth 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining in the game to tie it up at 62.
“I liked we were able to keep our composure and were able to make plays down the stretch, especially on the road,” Johnson said.
With five seconds to play, Kyan Anderson drove the lane and was fouled, then made both shots from the line for TCU. Then Lacy drove the length of the court and made an aggressive drive to the basket, but Fields blocked his shot as time expired.
“They are very good and determined to drive, and they are pretty good at drawing the foul,” Cougars coach Ken Bone said. “We knew that coming in.”
TCU led 16-0 lead early in the first half and the Cougars struggled to defend the drive. TCU outscored Washington State 20-4 in the paint in the half and 34-10 for the game. The Horned Frogs won the rebound battle 34-24.
Lacy finished with 18 points and five 3-pointers. Royce Woolridge chipped in 13 points and Dexter Kernich-Drew hit four 3-pointers for 12 points for Washington State.
Anderson scored 16 points for TCU, including the two key free throws in the final seconds that put the Horned Frogs in the lead. Jarvis Ray added 16 for TCU.
