It took all 40 minutes on Tuesday night, but the TCU Horned Frogs held on for a three-point victory over Oklahoma State to earn their second conference win of the season. TCU opened the game on a 9–0 run, converting four of its first five field-goal attempts. The Horned Frogs held a comfortable lead for the next several minutes before the Cowboys’ offense found its rhythm. Beginning at the 14:45 mark, Oklahoma State used a 14–5 run to cut the deficit to one point.
Despite the Cowboys’ push, TCU maintained its lead over the next five minutes. However, a 10–0 run ultimately handed Oklahoma State the advantage, which it carried for the remainder of the first half. Both teams played at a fast pace offensively, combining for 78 points in the opening 20 minutes. TCU shot 46.9 percent from the field on 32 attempts, while Oklahoma State connected on 58.1 percent of its 31 shots.
The second half opened in similarly frenetic fashion, though it was far more sloppy than efficient. Both teams scored just five points over the first five minutes, a stretch that included seven turnovers, four by the Horned Frogs. After the turnover-filled opening, the pace slowed, reinforcing the low-scoring nature of the half. Oklahoma State did not reach 50 points until the 13:49 mark, when the Cowboys led by six.
TCU reached the 50-point mark four minutes later on a Jayden Pierre layup, trailing by five. The teams traded baskets over the next several minutes before Oklahoma State pushed its lead to seven with 4:13 remaining. From there, TCU seized control, scoring the final 10 points of the game.
Xavier Edmonds converted two paint buckets, and Liutauras Lelevicius knocked down a corner three to tie the game at 65. After Kanye Clary missed a jumper on the ensuing possession, David Punch drove the lane and connected on a three-foot floater to give TCU the lead. Oklahoma State’s final three-point attempt missed, and a putback chance fell short. Punch secured the rebound, drew a foul, and split a pair of free throws to seal the win.
David Punch posted 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks against the Cowboys, while frontcourt mate Xavier Edmonds added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Brock Harding scored just three points but handed out nine assists for the Frogs. Oklahoma State was led by Isaiah Coleman, who scored 14 points off the bench, while Kanye Clary and Anthony Roy chipped in 11 and 13 points, respectively.
TCU finished the game shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from three-point range, while forcing 14 Oklahoma State turnovers. The Cowboys shot 43.5 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc and also forced 14 TCU turnovers. Oklahoma State scored 16 points off turnovers to TCU’s 15, edged the Frogs 42–40 in points in the paint, and trailed slightly in fastbreak points, 14–11, underscoring how closely contested the game was.
Up next, the Horned Frogs travel south down I35 to take on the Baylor Bears on Saturday, January 24, at 5:00 p.m. CT.
