TCU basketball wins its fifth straight, defeating Cincinnati 73-63 behind Jayden Pierre’s 18 points as the Horned Frogs head to the Big 12 Tournament hot.
FORT WORTH - TCU basketball is heating up at exactly the right time. The Horned Frogs closed the regular season with momentum Saturday afternoon, knocking off Cincinnati 73-63 in Fort Worth to secure their fifth straight victory heading into the Big 12 Tournament.
The win pushed TCU to 21-10 overall and 11-7 in conference play, marking the program’s best Big 12 record in school history.
Guard Jayden Pierre led the charge with a well-rounded performance, scoring 18 points while adding five rebounds and five assists.
Pierre was efficient throughout the afternoon, shooting 7-of-11 from the field as the Horned Frogs controlled the game when it mattered most.
TCU also received strong production from Liutauras Lelevicius, who contributed 14 points, while David Punch added 13 points, seven assists, and three steals in another steady outing for the Frogs.
The matchup remained tight through much of the first half.
Neither team could create separation early, with the lead changing hands several times. But just before halftime, Micah Robinson delivered a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, sending the Schollmaier Arena crowd into a frenzy and giving TCU a 32-29 edge at the break.
That momentum carried into the second half.
The Horned Frogs came out aggressive, ripping off a 9-0 run early in the final frame to stretch the lead to 45-35. From there, TCU kept Cincinnati chasing for the remainder of the game.
Even when the offense cooled late, the Frogs stayed composed. TCU didn’t hit a field goal during the final 3:28, but the team iced the game at the free-throw line, converting 10 of 12 attempts down the stretch.
Cincinnati was led by Day Day Thomas, who scored 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, while Baba Miller dominated the glass with 14 rebounds as the Bearcats won the rebounding battle 37-30.
Still, TCU’s balanced scoring and second-half execution proved decisive.
With the regular season complete, both teams now await their Big 12 Tournament seeding, with the conference tournament tipping off Tuesday. TCU enters postseason play riding serious momentum.