The Cowboys cannot hold on to half time lead as TCU closes gaps and pulls off the win in the final seconds
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — The Oklahoma State Cowboys couldn’t maintain their halftime lead, ultimately falling to the TCU Horned Frogs 68-65 on Tuesday night.
The Cowboys, who entered the game with a 14-4 record and 2-3 in conference play, showed promise early but were undone by a late TCU surge, dropping their record to 14-5 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12.
TCU improved to 12-7 and 2-4 in the league, snapping a four-game skid with their first conference win since early January.
Oklahoma State jumped out to a strong start, building a 41-37 advantage by halftime thanks to balanced scoring and stout defense.
Guard Kanye Clary led the Cowboys with 11 points in the first half, while forward Christian Coleman contributed on the boards.
The Cowboys extended their lead to as much as 10 points in the second half, capitalizing on TCU’s early turnovers and poor shooting from beyond the arc.
However, the Horned Frogs mounted a furious comeback in the final minutes. TCU’s David Punch was the hero of the night, posting a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
His go-ahead layup with just 6.3 seconds remaining sealed the victory, capping a 13-4 run that erased Oklahoma State’s edge.
Punch’s clutch performance was complemented by Vycie Miller’s 12 points and Brock Harding’s timely assists, as TCU shot 48% from the field in the second half to outpace the Cowboys’ 24 points after the break.
For Oklahoma State, the loss highlighted familiar issues with closing out games.
Despite Vyctorius Miller’s team-high 16 points and Coleman’s 9 rebounds, the Cowboys committed 12 turnovers and went cold from three-point range down the stretch, hitting only 2 of their last 8 attempts.
Coach Steve Lutz expressed frustration postgame, noting the team’s inability to execute in crunch time against a desperate TCU squad fighting for relevance in the crowded Big 12 standings.
The game drew a raucous crowd of over 6,000, with TCU extending their home winning streak against Oklahoma State to eight games.
This defeat marks the Cowboys’ third straight road loss in conference play, underscoring the challenges of Big 12 travel.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma State returns home to face Iowa State on Saturday, January 24, at Gallagher-Iba Arena, aiming to rebound against a tough Cyclones team at home.
TCU, meanwhile, hits the road to take on Baylor in Waco on the same day, hoping to build momentum from this comeback win.