Securing the No. 6 seed in the Big 12 Tournament gave the TCU Horned Frogs a first-round bye and a spot in the second round. Waiting there was the No. 11 Oklahoma State Cowboys, who advanced after defeating Colorado to set up a third meeting with TCU.
Despite the familiarity, the Horned Frogs got the better of the Cowboys once again, defeating Oklahoma State 95–88 in an offense-heavy contest.
TCU struck first when Xavier Edmonds knocked down a corner 3-pointer to put the Horned Frogs ahead. The game
was briefly halted, however, when Edmonds received a technical foul for turning toward the Cowboys’ bench after the basket. Oklahoma State capitalized, scoring four points to take the lead before David Punch answered to put TCU back in front, 5–4. The Cowboys then scored on back-to-back possessions to go up 8–5, and the teams traded baskets over the next few minutes.
Oklahoma State pushed its lead to seven at the 11:46 mark, but the Horned Frogs responded by cutting the deficit to one just two minutes later, 25–24. The Cowboys maintained the advantage for the next five minutes until a Punch three-pointer gave TCU a two-point lead at the 4:19 mark.
Oklahoma State quickly tied the game and took the lead less than a minute later. The Cowboys maintained that advantage for the rest of the half, taking a three-point lead into halftime, 46-43.
TCU opened the second half with five quick points to take the lead, but the Cowboys quickly answered. Oklahoma State tied the game moments later and reclaimed the advantage for the next several minutes. The lead grew to a game-high 10 points at the 13:48 mark when Anthony Roy drilled a three-pointer to make it 67–57.
Following a TV timeout, Oklahoma State’s Jayden Curry picked up his fourth foul, opening the door for a TCU comeback. The Horned Frogs responded with a 14–5 run over the next five minutes to cut the deficit to one at the 8:17 mark. TCU regained the lead at 5:40 when Jayden Pierre knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 81–80.
Oklahoma State briefly retook the lead, but TCU controlled the final minutes. Tanner Toolson pushed the Horned Frogs’ lead to its largest of the game at 1:56, making it 92–86. Strong defense down the stretch helped TCU hold off the Cowboys and secure a 95–88 win.
TCU shot 50.7 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc, also knocking down 19-of-27 free throws. Despite shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and cashing in on 16-of-17 freebies, the Cowboys shot merely 21.0 percent from downtown.
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention David Punch led the way with a game-high 26 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the field. Tanner Toolson added 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Xavier Edmonds recorded another double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jayden Pierre finished with 13 points, and Micah Robinson chipped in 10.
Anthony Roy led the Cowboys with 25 points and nine rebounds. Christian Coleman added 15 points, while Kanye Clary finished with 14.
Up next, TCU takes on the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinals at 8:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 12.
