It’s hard to beat a team three times in a row, right? Not the case for TCU, as they down the Cowboys 95-88 in Big 12 Tournament’s second round — So long March Madness hopes
KANSAS CITY, MO — In a second round showdown that encapsulated the rollercoaster of their season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys fell short against the TCU Horned Frogs, 95-88, in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Center.
The defeat not only ended OSU’s run in Kansas City but also essentially dashed their already flickering NCAA Tournament hopes, leaving the Cowboys on the outside looking in for March Madness.
The game was a tale of two halves. Oklahoma State jumped out to a strong start, leading 46-43 at intermission thanks to efficient shooting and solid rebounding. Senior guard Anthony Roy was the catalyst early, pouring in 15 points in the first half alone, including three timely three-pointers that kept the Cowboys ahead. Christian Coleman dominated the glass with 8 rebounds in the opening period, while point guard Kanye Clary dished out 5 assists to keep the offense flowing.
OSU shot 52% from the field in the first 20 minutes, capitalizing on TCU’s turnovers and forcing the Horned Frogs into tough shots.
However, TCU flipped the script in the second half, outscoring OSU 52-42 with a relentless attack led by forward David Punch and guard Jayden Pierre.
Punch finished with a game-high 22 points and 7 rebounds, including a crucial and-one layup with 4:39 left that gave TCU an 83-82 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Pierre added 19 points, knocking down four three-pointers, two of which came during a 12-2 run midway through the half that erased OSU’s eight-point advantage.
Xavier Edmonds provided a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring the defense and grabbing key offensive boards late.
Key plays defined this late night match. With 3:34 remaining and TCU up by three, Clary drove for a layup to cut the deficit to one, but Punch answered with a three-point jumper on the next possession, pushing the lead back to four.
OSU’s final push came when Roy hit a pull-up jumper to make it 90-86 with under two minutes left, but TCU sealed it at the free-throw line, converting 8-of-10 attempts in the closing moments.
The Cowboys forced 14 turnovers from TCU but committed 12 themselves, and their 38% second-half shooting proved costly.
Postgame saw OkState Roundtable Publisher, Tyler Jones on the scene capturing key Oklahoma State locker room thoughts:
— Senior Anthony Roy on the loss, what’s next and how lack of 2nd half rebounding was a determining factor in the loss:
For OSU, Roy led all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting, adding 5 rebounds. Coleman notched a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Clary contributed 14 points and 8 assists. The Cowboys finished with 44 rebounds but were outshot from beyond the arc, where TCU went 11-of-24 compared to OSU’s 8-of-21.
With a final record of 19-14 (6-12 in Big 12 play), Oklahoma State’s NCAA Tournament aspirations are all but over.
Bracketologists had them on the bubble entering the tournament, but this loss to a projected No. 7 seed like TCU likely eliminates any at-large bid. Instead, the Cowboys could receive an invitation to the NIT, where their high-scoring offense (averaging 83.9 points per game) and experience might translate to a deep run.
Coach Steve Lutz, in his second year, will look to build on the progress shown in wins like their first-round upset of Colorado (92-83), focusing on recruiting and development for next season.
TCU’s balanced effort saw five players in double figures, with Punch (22 pts), Pierre (19 pts), Edmonds (14 pts, 11 reb), Tanner Toolson (13 pts), and Kanye Harding (12 pts, 6 ast) shining. The Horned Frogs shot 48% overall and dominated the paint 48-36.
As the season starts to come to a close, OSU fans can take solace in a decent campaign, but the sting of missing the Big Dance will linger.