TCU 62, Kansas 55
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The ninth time was the charm. TCU earned its first Big 12 victory in 62-55 upset of No. 5 Kansas at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum Wednesday night.
The Horned Frogs (10-12, 1-8 Big 12) entered the game losing their first eight games in the conference but led from start to finish against the Jayhawks. Kansas (19-2, 7-2) dropped its second consecutive game of the season after winning 18-straight before a loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday.
TCU opened up the game like it was the ranked team coming into the match-up. Despite not yet winning a Big 12 game this season, the Horned Frogs held the Jayhawks to their lowest scoring half since 1989.
The Horned Frogs scored the game's first eight points and held the Jayhawks scoreless for the first 7:21. Garlon Green led TCU with 10 points in the half, including two 3-pointers that ignited the Frogs' defense. Kansas turned the ball over eight times, which TCU converted into seven points.
Following its first bucket of the game at 12:39, Kansas would not score again till the 6:06 until mark, and did not have another made field goal until 3:49 left in the half. Kansas also would fail to convert on its four 3-point attempts and shot just 13.6 percent in the half.
The Jayhawks made a run in the final two minutes to close the gap. Kansas scored five points from the free-throw line and added a Kevin Young bucket in the final minute of play to trail TCU 22-13 at the break.
Just as TCU controlled much of the first half, Kansas took the momentum early in the second. Naadir Tharpe brought the Jayhawks to within four points of the Horned Frogs. Naadir hit Kansas' first 3-pointer of the game at the 9:15 mark and would go onto score nine of the Jayhawks next 10 points.
Connell Crossland fought off the attack with TCU's first response. Off of a Green miss, Crossland would slam home the basket to reignite the home crowd.
Green would then give TCU the next response. Green hit an 18-footer and then converted on a 1-and-1 opportunity to extend the lead back to nine points.
Adrick McKinney picked up where Green left off by knocking down five consecutive points to build the Horned Frog lead.
TCU finished off the upset by knocking down free throws down the stretch.
