The TCU Horned Frogs’ win streak has come to an end. After wins over Kansas State, Iowa State and Oklahoma State that reignited their tournament hopes, TCU fell 82-71 to UCF in Orlando.
UCF, which had lost three straight entering the game, came out with a vengeance. The Knights opened on a 9-2 run, with Jordan Burks scoring seven of the first nine points. TCU answered with eight of the next 10 to trim the deficit to one, but the surge didn’t last. UCF responded with a 15-4 run to build a 26-14 lead
with 8:43 remaining in the half.
On the ropes, TCU began chipping away but couldn’t cool the Knights’ hot offense. Tanner Toolson hit two free throws to cut the deficit to single digits around the seven-minute mark, but the Frogs’ offense went cold from there. TCU managed just eight more points before halftime while UCF added 13, taking a 42-28 lead into the break.
Despite the 14-point deficit, the margin didn’t feel insurmountable given TCU’s 34.5 percent shooting compared to UCF’s 57.7 percent.
Micah Robinson opened the second half with four straight points to cut UCF’s lead to 10 within minutes. The Knights responded immediately, however, keeping TCU at arm’s length. Despite Robinson’s spark, the Frogs never found sustained rhythm offensively. Inefficiency on one end paired with inconsistent defense on the other prevented TCU from making a meaningful dent in the deficit.
By the 10:33 mark, UCF had stretched its advantage to 19. After the Knights pushed the lead to 65-46—their largest of the night—TCU answered with nine straight points to trim it back to 10. But once again, the push stalled. UCF kept its foot on the gas.
The Knights rebuilt the cushion to 18 before TCU made one final surge. Trailing 75-57, the Frogs scored 12 of the next 14 points to pull within 10. Still, it was too little, too late. Down 77-67 with just over a minute remaining, TCU ran out of time, and UCF closed out an 82-71 victory, strengthening its own postseason profile while leaving the Horned Frogs in a precarious position as March approaches.
TCU shot just 41.7 percent from the floor and 19.0 percent from three-point range. UCF countered at 49.1 percent overall and 40.0 percent from deep. The Knights were also nearly flawless at the free-throw line, converting 18-of-20 attempts, while TCU went 17-of-27 from the stripe.
Jordan Burks paced UCF with 26 points, knocking down five three-pointers. Thelmus Fulks added 11 points and seven assists, and George Beale Jr. contributed 11 off the bench.
TCU was led by Robinson’s 20 points and nine rebounds. David Punch added 14, while Xavier Edmonds recorded another double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.
