KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No. 14 Kansas survived a late push from TCU and held on for a 78-73 victory Thursday at T-Mobile Center in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.
The Jayhawks controlled much of the contest, leading for more than 21 minutes, while TCU held the advantage for nearly 14 minutes in a game that featured several momentum swings before Kansas closed it out at the free-throw line.
TCU’s biggest challenge came at the foul line, where Kansas made frequent trips. The Jayhawks attempted 37 free throws — the second-most allowed by the Horned Frogs this season — helping Kansas maintain its edge down the stretch.
TCU struggled with ball security at key moments, committing 14 turnovers, its highest total in the last nine games.
David Punch carried the offensive load for the Horned Frogs, finishing with a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Punch caught fire after halftime, scoring 18 of his points in the second half to keep TCU within striking distance.
Jayden Pierre added 11 points for the Horned Frogs, marking his fourth straight game in double figures and his 17th game reaching that mark this season.
Liutauras Lelevicius contributed 14 points and grabbed a season-high eight rebounds. The forward also knocked down two 3-pointers and has now connected from deep in four consecutive games.
Despite the late push, TCU was unable to overcome Kansas’ steady production and free-throw advantage.
The loss dropped TCU to 4-29 all-time against Kansas and 9-14 in Big 12 Tournament play. The Horned Frogs also fell to 3-6 against Top 25 opponents this season.
TCU is now 11-14 all-time at T-Mobile Center, including a 9-10 mark under coach Jamie Dixon.
