Men’s basketball bounces back with road win over Oklahoma State

By Garrett Podell

Published Jan 31, 2018

TCU guard Desmond Bane, center, takes a shot under pressure from Oklahoma State forwards Mitchell Solomon, left, and Cameron McGriff, right in the second half of a NCAA college basketball game in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Bane scored 12 points in the 79-66 TCU win over Oklahoma State.(AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)

The Horned Frog defense didn’t allow Saturday’s close loss against Vanderbilt to turn into a losing streak as it propelled TCU to a victory over Oklahoma State Tuesday night in Stillwater, 79-66.

TCU forward Vladimir Brodziansky (10) attempts to block a shot by Oklahoma State guard Kendall Smith (1) in the first half of a NCAA college basketball game in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.(AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)

“Good win, we did it with our defense, we’ve been preaching that,” TCU head coach Jamie Dixon said. ”It’s been our weakness, but it seems to be getting better. We held them to 41 percent and outrebounded them by 11. That was the key for us, especially in that second half when we pulled away.”

TCU forward Ahmed Hamdy (23) dunks despite pressure from Oklahoma State forward Cameron McGriff in the second half of a NCAA college basketball game in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Hamdy scored 9 points in the 79-66 TCU win over Oklahoma State.(AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)

The Horned Frogs led by just five, 36-31, at the half, leaving Tuesday looking like it would be another tense Big 12 game for TCU.

Following a layup from Oklahoma State forward Mitchell Solomon just 13 seconds into the second half, the Cowboys came as close as three points, 36-33, but the TCU sprinted ahead with an 18-6 run over the next six minutes to take control of the game. TCU forward Ahmed Hamdy’s dunk with 13:55 to go gave TCU a 54-39 advantage, and Oklahoma State couldn’t get closer than six points the rest of the night.

The key to TCU’s surge was its play around the rim, where the Horned Frogs outscored Oklahoma State in the paint by 22 points, 42-20, and out-rebounded the Cowboys by 11, 37-26.

Hamdy returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt due to sickness. He scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds within 16 minutes off the bench. TCU guard Kenrich Williams scored 13 points in addition to nine rebounds and six assists, and in doing so became the 35^th member of the 1,000-point club. He currently ranks 34th all-time in career points at TCU with 1,007 points. Williams also became the eighth person in TCU history with over 1,000 points and 700 rebounds.

TCU guard Desmond Bane lays up a shot in the second half of a NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State, in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Bane scored 12 points in the 79-66 TCU win over Oklahoma State. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)

TCU point guard Alex Robinson added 13 points and four assists, leaving him six assists shy of tying Jamie Dixon (353) for eighth on TCU’s career assist list. TCU guard Desmond Bane added 12 points, five assists and four rebounds for the Horned Frogs, who had five players score in double digits.

The Horned Frogs entered Tuesday ranked 13th in the nation with a 50.3 shooting percentage and topped that with a 56 percent night from the field.

The win was TCU’s first in Stillwater since a 37-16 victory during the 1924-25 season.

Up Next

TCU returns home to Schollmaier Arena Saturday for its first matchup against the No. 10 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.