TCU rallies past Oklahoma State 95-88 in Big 12 Tournament, advances to quarterfinal vs Kansas

Second-round result sets up another ranked-stage matchup in Kansas City

TCU advanced in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday night, March 11, defeating Oklahoma State 95-88 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The result moved the sixth-seeded Horned Frogs into the quarterfinal round, where they are scheduled to face No. 3 seed Kansas on Thursday, March 12.

The game added another close chapter to a season series defined by narrow margins. TCU had already won two regular-season meetings between the teams—one in Fort Worth and one in Stillwater—both by three points, including an overtime decision on Feb. 14. Wednesday’s tournament matchup again stayed within single digits late before TCU closed out the win.

How TCU turned the game after halftime

Oklahoma State carried a 46-43 lead into halftime, but TCU won the second half 52-42. The swing reflected a more efficient offensive stretch by the Horned Frogs after the break, as they pushed the game into the 90s and forced the Cowboys to keep pace in a faster, higher-scoring half than the first.

TCU’s David Punch led all scorers with 26 points. Tanner Toolson delivered key baskets down the stretch as TCU protected its advantage in the closing minutes.

Oklahoma State’s late push falls short

Oklahoma State entered the matchup as the No. 14 seed after an opening-round win over Colorado on Tuesday. That victory had been powered by a 24-point night from Anthony Roy and a double-double from Christian Coleman (17 points, 14 rebounds), helping the Cowboys extend their stay in Kansas City by at least one game.

Against TCU, Oklahoma State’s first-half production put the Cowboys in position to challenge for the upset. But the second-half deficit proved difficult to erase as TCU’s scoring pace increased and the possession-by-possession pressure rose.

What the result means in the bracket

• TCU advances to the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals and is set to play Kansas on Thursday, March 12.
• Oklahoma State’s tournament run ends in the second round after winning its first-round game.
• The outcome reinforces TCU’s season-long edge in the matchup, completing a 3-0 sweep over Oklahoma State in 2025-26.

Final score: TCU 95, Oklahoma State 88 (halftime: Oklahoma State 46, TCU 43).