Late run lifts TCU past Kansas State 77-68

A K-State basketball player drives towards the goal. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State basketball player shoots the ball. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State basketball player dunks the ball. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State basketball player dunks the ball. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State basketball player claps from the sideline. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State basketball player shoots a layup next to a TCU defender. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

A K-State basketball player dribbles the ball in front of a TCU defender. Courtesy: Zoe Taylor

While most of the game was neck and neck, the TCU Horned Frogs took advantage of some late mistakes by the Kansas State Wildcats to go on a run and get a big win on Saturday evening at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan. 

Neither team created separation early in the contest as the Wildcats and the Horned Frogs traded the lead multiple times in the first 10 minutes, and the second multi-possession lead would not come until TCU hit back-to-back shots to go up 29-25 with 6:26 left in the first half. 

The Horned Frogs would grow that lead to 33-27 and would hold it for the remainder of the half. The Wildcats had chances to tie the game, but TCU went into the halftime break leading 41-38. 

TCU extended its lead by scoring the first four points of the second half, but Kansas State did not let it bother them as they would respond with four of their own. As the game went on, the Wildcats cut the Horned Frog lead down to one point on three separate occasions and made the score 59-61 with 7:26 left thanks to a huge three-pointer by Andrej Kostic. 

Kansas State had more opportunities to retake the lead, but TCU scored 10 of the last 13 points of the game after some costly turnovers to capture a 77-68 win. 

The Wildcats were once again led by PJ Haggerty, who scored 18 points, and Nate Johnson followed him with 16 points as well as nine assists. Taj Manning also played a big role for Kansas State on the boards with 10 rebounds. 

The Horned Frogs saw four players reach double figures. Xavier Edmonds led the charge with 15 points and 13 rebounds, and David Punch finished the game with 13 points. The other two TCU players to reach double figures came off the bench as Tanner Toolson had 14 and Liutauras Lelevicius had 12. 

TCU now stands at 19-10 and 9-7 in Big 12 play. It is their sixth win in the last seven games, and it strengthens the Horned Frogs’ resume as they look to return to the NCAA Tournament while currently listed as a bubble team. They will now get set for a big matchup on Tuesday as they visit rival Texas Tech for a 6 p.m. contest on FS1. 

Kansas State falls to 11-18 and 2-14 in the Big 12. The Wildcats will also be back in action on Tuesday for their final home game of the year against West Virginia. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.