WACO, Texas — In a thrilling game on Sunday, TCU emerged victorious against the 25th-ranked Baylor with a score of 74-71, marking the end of Baylor’s impressive 10-game winning streak at home. This came after TCU fought back from a double-digit deficit in the second half, showcasing their resilience on the court.
Brendan Wenzel was the hero for TCU, sinking a crucial three-pointer from the left corner just six seconds before the final buzzer. Ernest Udeh Jr. put up a stellar performance, achieving a career-best 16 points and a season-high 15 rebounds for the Horned Frogs, while also blocking Jayden Nunn’s last-ditch effort to tie the game with a three-pointer in the final seconds. Teammates Vasean Allette and Noah Reynolds contributed 13 points each towards the team’s overall success.
On the other side, Baylor’s Norchad Omier led the team with 20 points, supported by VJ Edgecombe’s 18 points and Jeremy Roach’s 11. The game was tightly contested, especially in the final moments when Nunn’s three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining tied the game at 71—all following a forced turnover by Roach as he dove to disrupt Allette’s inbound pass.
Baylor had been leading comfortably, going up by as much as 12 points before halftime and maintaining an 48-38 lead earlier in the second half following a three-pointer from Omier at 16:42. However, TCU’s determination shone through as the game progressed.
Observations from the game reveal that TCU secured their sixth road victory against a ranked team in the last seven seasons—an impressive feat compared to just one prior to that. Despite 11 turnovers in the first half that allowed Baylor to capitalize for 16 points and take a 39-32 lead, TCU managed to pull through despite finishing with 17 turnovers overall.
This game also marked the subsequent loss for Baylor this season, as they had previously fallen 81-70 to Arizona after trailing by 23 points at halftime.
A defining moment came when Udeh made a steal, retrieved the ball, and executed an emphatic two-handed dunk, capping a critical 7-0 run that brought TCU within two points at 56-54 with 8:47 remaining in the game.
A key statistic from the match indicates that TCU dominated the boards, out-rebounding Baylor 41-25, which was crucial for their victory.
Looking ahead, TCU will return home to face off against No. 9 Kansas on Wednesday night, while Baylor will take on Kansas State.
