TCU’s late-game comeback effort fell short on Tuesday night as the Horned Frogs lost 61-58 to Baylor at Schollmaier Arena.

TCU struggled to establish momentum early, allowing the Bears to dictate the tempo for most of the game. The Horned Frogs fell behind by as many as 11 points in the second half but mounted a comeback in the final minutes, trimming the deficit to a single possession before ultimately falling short.

“I feel like early we failed to set up the tone,” Ernest Udeh Jr. said in the post-game press conference. “Everyone knows basketball is a game of runs, but it’s just certain stuff that lingers around for the entire game. And definitely, I felt like the tone, you know, they came out here to feel kind of comfortable.”

The loss spoiled what could have been a historic moment for TCU, who was aiming for its first season sweep of Baylor since 2018.

Baylor controlled much of the contest, leading for over 33 minutes. The Bears capitalized on TCU’s shooting woes, particularly in the second half, where the Horned Frogs shot just 23% from the field and 3-of-13 from beyond the arc. Despite their struggles, TCU’s defense kept them in the game, forcing 13 Baylor turnovers and holding the Bears to just 36% shooting in the second half.

Baylor forward Norchad Omier, the Big 12’s leading rebounder, led the Bears with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Guard V.J. Edgecombe contributed 18 points, hitting three of Baylor’s six made three-pointers.

TCU’s Noah Reynolds paced the team with 16 points including three 3-pointers, while Trazarien White added 11. Micah Robinson contributed 6 points off the bench, including a key three-pointer that cut Baylor’s lead to 56-48 with 6:35 remaining.

The Horned Frogs dominated the offensive glass, securing 20 offensive rebounds, which led to 23 second-chance points. Despite their effort on the boards, TCU’s poor shot selection and struggles from deep proved costly.

The game was tied at 58 with just 23 seconds before Baylor’s Robert Wright knocked down a pair of free throws to reclaim the lead. A last-second turnover by TCU sealed their fate as Omier added one more free throw for Baylor.

The loss was a rare stumble for TCU in close contests, as the Horned Frogs entered the game with a 9-1 record in games decided by five or fewer points this season. They were also 12-1 when leading at halftime, but their second-half struggles proved costly.

With the regular season nearing its conclusion, TCU will now turn its attention to its final game at Colorado, where they will look to solidify their Big 12 tournament seeding and their NCAA Tournament chances.

The Horned Frogs will travel to play at Colorado on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN+.