Men’s Basketball: TCU falls 82–79 to Utah for fourth straight loss

Although the TCU Horned Frogs lost by just three points, it may have been their ugliest defeat of the season, even more discouraging than their season-opening loss to New Orleans. The Utah Utes, widely regarded as the Big 12’s weakest team, handed TCU an 82–79 wire-to-wire loss.

The contest began in disastrous fashion for the Horned Frogs, as it took more than six minutes for TCU to score. Utah opened the Big 12 battle on a 14–0 run before a Jase Posey dunk finally ended the drought. A Brock Harding three-pointer within the next minute gave TCU some life, but it was short-lived. The Utes answered on the next possession and maintained a double-digit lead for much of the first half.

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TCU finally began to chip away at Utah’s lead around the five-minute mark. Trailing 31–18, the Horned Frogs went on a 12–4 run to cut the deficit to five as halftime approached. However, Utah scored the final three points of the half to take an eight-point advantage into the intermission.

Unlike the first half, TCU opened the second strong. David Punch scored the first five points of the frame to cut Utah’s lead to three. After a Josh Hayes free throw and a Jayden Pierre layup, both teams went scoreless for more than three minutes until Tanner Toolson ended the drought with a game-tying layup at 39.

Utah then seized momentum, scoring seven straight points to regain control. The Utes held the lead for the remainder of the half, going up four at the 10-minute mark and maintaining that margin as the clock dipped under five minutes. TCU later trimmed the deficit to two, but a back-and-forth stretch followed. Utah finally created separation when Pierre was whistled for a shooting foul on a Don McHenry three with 2:12 remaining, pushing the lead to 76–68.

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TCU made a final push in the closing seconds. Micah Robinson knocked down a three to pull the Frogs within two with 21 seconds left. Utah responded by hitting two free throws, but Punch answered with a dunk to keep TCU alive. After Utah split another trip to the line, the Frogs had a chance to tie on the final possession. Toolson grabbed the rebound, pushed the pace, and found Robinson in the corner for an open look. The sophomore’s shot grazed the rim, sealing an 82–79 Utah victory.

TCU shot 50.0 percent from the field, buoyed by finishing the game 13-of-14 from the floor, but allowed Utah to shoot 50.8 percent overall and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. The Horned Frogs knocked down just four three-pointers, scoring 52 points in the paint and 15 from the free-throw line.

Punch led the Frogs with 22 points and six rebounds. Robinson added 14 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Toolson and Jase Posey combined for 17 points off the bench. Utah’s balanced attack was paced by Terrence Brown, who scored 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Three other Utes starters reached double figures, including Keanu Dawes, who posted a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double.

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The Horned Frogs will return to Fort Worth to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Tuesday, January 20, at 7:00 p.m. CT.