TCU blows double-digit lead in overtime loss to No. 22 Kansas

Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Jan 7, 2026

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TCU basketball blew a 15-point second-half lead in a shocking overtime defeat to No. 22 Kansas on the road Tuesday night in Lawrence, Kan.

Despite giving up the lead, the Horned Frogs still had a chance to pull off the upset in overtime as Jayden Pierre knocked down a 3 to cut the Jayhawks’ lead to 97-94 with 50.4 seconds remaining.

Pierre nearly came up with a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass, and Kansas moved downcourt for an alley-oop dunk. The Horned Frogs responded with a 3-pointer from Brock Harding to cut it to 99-97 with 34.3 seconds remaining.

After the Jayhawks’ Melvin Council made one of two free throws, TCU had a chance to tie the game with 25.2 seconds remaining, trailing 100-97.

But Pierre threw the ball away leading to two more free throws for Council with 21 seconds remaining. Pierre made up for the mistake by hitting another 3 to make it 102-100 with 11 seconds to go. However, the Jayhawks put the game away with two final free throws with 9.2 seconds remaining.

It could be a season-changing loss as the defeat will have NCAA Tournament implications.

TCU squandered an 82-67 lead with 4:38 remaining as Kansas outscored the Horned Frogs 20-5 to send it to overtime. The Jayhawks made timely shots, but the Horned Frogs were their own worst enemies with critical mistakes down the stretch.

TCU’s Liutaurus Lelevicius made a huge 3-pointer to make it 85-76 with 1:14 minutes remaining, which initially felt like the dagger, but Kansas responded immediately with a 3-pointer from Jamari McDowell with 60 seconds remaining. The Jayhawks would cut it to 85-82 after a missed free throw by Harding led to a three-point play by Council.

Harding missed another free throw, which gave Kansas a chance to tie it, but White missed the 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining. Lelevicius made two crucial free throws with 12 seconds remaining, but another Kansas basket kept the Jayhawks in it with less than 10 seconds to go.

The Horned Frogs made another critical mistake as Harding turned it over on in-bounds pass to David Punch with 5.1 seconds remaining. With one last chance to tie it Jace Posey fouled Darryn Peterson while attempting a 3-pointer and Peterson knocked down all three to tie it with 1.7 seconds remaining and send it to overtime.

Despite dealing with a hamstring injury Peterson led all scorers with 32 points. Lelevicius led TCU with 23 points while Punch finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

TCU will face No. 1 Arizona at 3 p.m. on Saturday.