Why the Buffs won: CU held TCU to a .379 shooting percentage and managed to pull even on the boards in the second half (17-17) after getting outrebounded by 11 in the first half.

Three stars

1. CU’s Andrej Jakimovski. Hit four 3-pointers in the second half and led the Buffs with 18 points. Also shared the team lead with seven rebounds.

2. CU’s Julian Hammond III. Played like a senior point guard in the postseason, going 7-for-9 at the free-throw line before finishing with 16 points and three assists.

3. TCU’s Noah Reynolds. A bright spot for the Horned Frogs in an otherwise tough game offensively, Reynolds finished went 7-for-14 with a team-high 17 points.

Up next: The Buffs’ season stays alive at least one more day with a second-round date against eighth-seeded West Virginia on Wednesday (1 p.m., ESPN+).