The Frogs ignite a furious 12-0 closing run, snatching victory from No. 5 Iowa State with clutch defense and late-game heroics.
The TCU Horned Frogs delivered their most complete performance of the season Tuesday night, finishing on a blistering run to knock off the Iowa State Cyclones 62-55 at Schollmaier Arena.
The win marked TCU’s highest-ranked victory since last season and injected new life into the Frogs’ Big 12 push.
Trailing 55-50 with under three minutes to play, TCU flipped the script with defense and poise.
The Frogs closed the game on a 12-0 run, forcing multiple Iowa State turnovers while converting their final four field goal attempts. The Cyclones didn’t score again after a layup by Nate Heise, as TCU’s pressure tightened and the arena came alive.
Senior guard Jayden Pierre delivered the turning point. In a span of just 20 seconds, Pierre scored five straight points, including a tough floater in traffic followed by a confident 3-pointer that put TCU ahead for good with 48 seconds left. It was a calm, veteran sequence that defined the night.
Junior Tanner Toolson led the way offensively, tying for a game-high 17 points and sealing the win at the free throw line.
Toolson also grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds, recording his first double-double of the year. Micah Robinson matched Toolson with 17 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting and punctuated the final minutes with two powerful dunks.
The comeback was set up earlier. TCU trailed by nine late in the first half but closed the period on a 10-2 spurt to pull within one at the break. That momentum carried into a second half where the Frogs outscored Iowa State 33-25.
TCU outrebounded the Cyclones 36-31 and held one of the nation’s top offenses to just 55 points. Under Jamie Dixon, the Frogs continue to be dangerous at home, especially against elite competition.
TCU now turns its attention to a road test at Oklahoma State on Saturday, but this win may be remembered as a defining moment of the season.