Big 12 Basketball Tournament: TCU falls 64-62 to Kansas State

TCU’s Big 12 Tournament run is over after the Frogs fell 64-62 in overtime against the Kansas State Wildcats.

The Frogs and Wildcats came out hot Thursday morning, as both squads shot 5-7 through the first five minutes. But things cooled off considerably from there, as both teams struggled through the rest of the half and throughout the remainder of the game. After a defense option start, neither team shot 50% from the field - and in fact both hit on just 46% of their shots. The Frogs were especially weak from the free throw line, something that has plagued them on and off this season, hitting on just 7-14, and missing two down the stretch that would have sent the game to double-OT.

Vladimir Brodziansky carried the O through the first half, scoring ten points. But he wouldn’t make a shot from the field the rest of the way, settling for 13 total after making 3-4 free throws in overtime. Kenrich Williams did his part all game long, finishing with a game high 20 points and pulling down 10 rebounds, notching yet another double-double for TCU. The combination of Kenny Hustle and Alex Robinson kept the Frogs in the game in the second frame, as Desmond Bane went scoreless through the first 39:599 second of game play. But, he made one when it mattered, draining a corner three with .01 seconds on the clock, releases the ball at literally the last possible moment before the scoreboard lit up red.

With momentum of TCU’s side, they had a great shot to steal the game in OT. But Bane fouled out with more than three minutes remaining, and the Frogs’ offense stalled. TCU managed just five points in OT, missing four shots and three free throws in the process. Despite their struggles, they still had a shot to send it to double OT, when Alex Robinson was fouled on a drive to the hoop with one second remaining and TCU down two. But he missed the first, and the Frogs couldn’t get the rebound on the intentional miss, ending their conference tournament run.

TCU had three players in double-figures, with Williams (20), Alex Robinson (16), and Wladimir Brodziansky (13). They shot 7-17 from three, 7-14 from the free throw line, and 25-54 from the field. TCU matched the Cats with 33 rebounds, and both had six on the offensive glass. Alex Robinson led the Frogs with six of their 14 assists, but they turned it over 14 times as a team as well.

The Frogs return home to Fort Worth to await their NCAA March Madness fate, which they find out on Selection Sunday.