The TCU Horned Frogs lose in dramatic fashion to the No. 24 Iowa State Cyclones at home.
The difference maker in this match was turnovers. The Frogs gave up 27 turnovers that turned into 36 points for the Cyclones.
Iowa State put the first points on the board from a TCU turnover, but the Frogs answered with both free throws made by Ernest Udeh Jr.
Turnovers became an unfortunate trend for the Frogs, as Iowa State tallied 13 points from TCU turnovers in the first six minutes of the game. Despite priding themselves on being a low turnover team, the Frogs recorded nine turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game alone.
About six minutes into the match, Iowa State had the largest lead against the Frogs, 15-4. The Cyclone defense held TCU to having only one field goal attempt from Jameer Nelson Jr. for six minutes into the game, holding he Frogs to only four points.
Avery Anderson III closed in on Iowa State’s 20-13 lead with back-to-back field goals made. Anderson III cut the lead from 22-13 to 22-18 with a made shot from behind the arc and a fadeaway jumper.
To end the first half, the Cyclones led the Frogs 44-26. TCU ended the half with 18 turnovers which turned into 27 points for Iowa State.
Moving into the second half, TCU claimed the first points of the second half with four free throws made from Udeh Jr. The Frogs continued to move in on the 14-point lead to 33-44 with a three-point jumper from Trevian Tennyson.
The Cyclones are picked apart TCU’s defensive scheme as two buckets for Iowa State came from an unguarded player in the paint. They forced six TCU turnovers with 11:27 left to play.
With 9:47 on the clock, back-to-back three-point shots from Tennyson and JaKobe Coles brought life back into the Schollmaier Arena with the Cyclones still up by double digits, 61-50. The Frogs went on 10-0 run moving into the last quarter of the game.
With 1:33 left to play in the match, TCU went on a 8-0 run to cut the lead to 67-71 in hopes of a miracle win inside the Schollmaier Arena.
Unable to make the ball fall through on a layup from Micah Peavy, Tennyson, who led TCU with 19 points, scored the final points of the game with a 3-point jumper. The Frogs ultimately fell short of the victory, 73-72.
Looking holistically at the game, Iowa State’s points from TCU turnovers and second chance buckets is what sealed the deal for the Cyclones, totalling 50 of their 73 points. Although TCU outscored Iowa State in the second half, 46-29, the 18-point deficit at halftime prevented the Frogs from pulling through with the win.
The Frogs also improved from the free throw line, shooting 10/12 in the first half and 10/14 in the second. Udeh Jr. had the most improvement from the line shooting 80% from the line.
TCU looks to rebound from this loss as they travel to Gallagher-Iba Arena to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. and will be available for streaming on ESPN2.
