Kansas State 62, TCU 54: “I’m disappointed in how we played.”

TCU suffered a bad loss on Saturday afternoon, falling to Kansas State 62-54 and sliding to 4-7 in Big 12 play.

“I’m disappointed in how we played,” Coach Jamie Dixon said simply after the game.

It was Kansas State’s second conference win of the season, snapping a 13-game losing streak dating back to January 2nd. It’s the Wildcats’ first win in 2021.

The Frogs managed the feat by shooting a staggeringly bad 31.9% from the floor, and 22.2% from three. Mike Miles and RJ Nembhard combined for 27 points, but did so on just 6-24 combined shooting.

Kansas State’s physicality against Miles and Nembhard frustrated them all afternoon, with both players visibly worked up in the second half about the things being done to contain them.

In spite of all that, TCU held a 51-46 lead with less than five minutes to go in the contest, but Kansas State closed on a 16-3 run to run past the Frogs for the victory.

Despite the contest being close throughout, TCU seemed to carry the lead for the majority of the game holding Kansas State at arm’s length until a turning-point moment midway through the second half.

With 7:20 left in the game, Kansas State’s Dajuan Gordon had the ball on a breakaway. He was chased down by PJ Fuller, who appeared to block the shot as Gordon tumbled to the ground. Fuller was hit with a technical foul for standing over Gordon and flexing, and several players came together in a scuffle.

After reviewing the play the refs changed Fuller’s block to a foul, assessed a personal foul, and also gave Mike McGuirl a technical foul for his actions after the play. The free throws that ensued turned a TCU lead into a 46-46 tie, and TCU never seemed to regain their footing.

In fact, they made just three baskets the rest of the way and none in the final five minutes.

“14 turnovers in a low possession game and then you miss shots, it’s tough,” Dixon went on to say.

That’s certainly true.

TCU will have to get up off the mat quickly, as their Big 12 slate continues on Tuesday when No. 13 West Virginia comes to town, fresh off a 19-point comeback victory over No. 12 Texas.