The Horned Frogs continue to blaze through the Big 12, leaving the Cowboys in their wake. In a thrilling second-round matchup of the Big 12 Tournament, 14th-seeded Oklahoma State fell to 6th seed TCU, 95-88. This victory marks TCU’s ninth win in their last ten games, solidifying their status as the league's hottest team.
Oklahoma State came out swinging, especially in the first half, with an offense firing on all cylinders. They shot an impressive 9-for-13 to start and ended the half at 51% from the field.
Their strategy was clear: dominate the paint and keep the ball moving. By halftime, five Cowboys had at least six points, with Jaylen Curry leading at ten points, closely followed by Anthony Roy, Benjamin Ahmed, and Isaiah Coleman with eight each.
Despite missing key players Parsa Fallah and Andrija Vukovic, the Cowboys held their ground in the paint, outrebounding TCU 20-16 in the first half. Their 30 points in the paint were the highest in a half so far in the tournament. The Cowboys led by as much as seven and took a narrow 46-43 lead into the break.
Christian Coleman was a standout, scoring six in the first half and adding nine more in the early minutes of the second. Fresh off a stellar performance the night before, Coleman was instrumental in an 8-0 run that saw the Cowboys extend their lead to 67-57.
However, foul trouble in the second half began to unravel the Cowboys' momentum. Key players like Jaylen Curry and big men Ahmed and Mekhi Ragland found themselves benched with four fouls each. This shift allowed TCU to capitalize, as Xavier Edmonds hit a crucial three-pointer, giving the Frogs an 81-80 lead with just over five minutes left-a lead they hadn’t held since the early moments of the second half.
The deep ball became the deciding factor. Despite Oklahoma State’s dominance in the paint with 52 points, their perimeter shooting lagged at 4-for-19 (21%), compared to TCU’s 8-for-23 (35%). When Tanner Toolson nailed another three with under two minutes remaining, it gave TCU a six-point cushion that the Cowboys couldn’t overcome.
In the end, Oklahoma State’s initial control in the paint slipped away, as they were out-rebounded 39-35 and outscored in second-chance points 27-16. Six Cowboys scored in double digits, with Anthony Roy leading the charge in his final game, posting 25 points and nine rebounds. Christian Coleman contributed 15 points on efficient shooting, while Kanye Clary added 14 points and five assists.
TCU’s David Punch was the game’s top scorer, dropping a career-high 26 points on just 14 shots, showcasing his offensive prowess.
With this loss, Oklahoma State concludes their season with a 19-13 record, a notable improvement from the previous year under coach Steve Lutz. While they won't be heading to the NCAA Tournament, there's still a possibility for postseason play in the NIT or the Crown.