Texas unable to overcome another first-half deficit versus TCU, lets chance at Big 12 title slip away

Yet again versus a ranked Big 12 opponent, and for the second time in the 2022-23 season versus the TCU Horned Frogs, the Texas Longhorns entered halftime with a double-digit deficit. Though ranked in the top 25, the Horned Frogs began the contest behind Texas in the Big 12 standings and in total wins. However, the first-half stat sheet was good evidence as to why TCU was the betting favorite entering the contest.

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And with Texas needing a win to make Saturday’s contest with Kansas in Austin one that would determine whether the Big 12 title would belong solely to the Jayhawks or be split between the two teams, Texas was dominated in every facet during the first half in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs had an advantage over the Longhorns in shooting percentage, three-point shooting percentage, total rebounding, defensive rebounding, offensive rebounding, second-chance points, bench points, fast break points, blocks, and steals at the halftime buzzer, and it wasn’t just bounce-of-the-ball stuff. Those advantages were created by TCU making the extra effort on the boards, for loose balls, and on defense. The largest Horned Frog lead became as large as 16 as a result.

Like in the first game, however, Texas made a spirited comeback. After entering the break down 12, Texas fought back in the second half to make it a one-possession game on multiple occasions. But the closest the contest came was when the scoreboard read triple zeroes with TCU on top, 75-73.

With the result, Texas saw their chance at a first regular season conference title 2008, shared or otherwise, slip away. It saw the opportunity at a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament, though already fleeting after the loss to Baylor, evaporate.

Finally, it saw a second consecutive loss for the first time all season at a point with one game remaining against the conference’s toughest team.

The tone was set by the Horned Frogs within the first 15 seconds. The Longhorns won the tip, but Damion Baugh took the ball from Texas and scored the first of his game-high 24 points. Baugh stepped up in place of the typically prolific Mike Miles, who was limited to just a single point via one made technical free throw. The Longhorns could not keep up with TCU’s transition offense for much of the game, and could not get the ball off the glass often enough to keep Dixon’s team off the board.

TCU had 14 fast-break points to Texas’ seven in the first 20 minutes, and had 23 rebounds to Texas’ 10. The only major statistic the Horns held an advantage in at halftime was in turnovers. TCU committed 11, while Texas coughed up possession six times.

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As the Longhorns have done for most of the year, especially in the numerous occasions they’ve trailed at halftime, they made a run at the start of the second half. An 11-point margin was cut to five with 11:50 left in the game. TCU ballooned it back up to as much as 12, but Texas cut made it a two-possession game once again with 4:27 left.

With two-and-a-half minutes remaining, TCU looked to have put away Longhorns one last time after a run stretched the Frog lead back up to nine. However, the Longhorns stayed in it and made it a three-point game with one minute left.

They couldn’t cut it closer than three. Baugh scored his 23rd and 24th points at the line with 19 seconds left. Brock Cunningham laid a ball up and in with 10 seconds left, and while Texas attempted to foul, they could not make contact on Emanuel Miller. Hi dunk at the other end put him at 20 points and sealed the game.

Sir’Jabari Rice, the Longhorns’ leading scorer, hit a three-pointer as time expired to make it 75-73, the smallest margin since the 14:09 point in the first half.

Texas never led, and as a result Saturday’s senior day will determine whether the Longhorns have a bye in the Big 12 Tournament or if they’ll have an entirely different and more disappointing outcome, playing one of the bookend games on Thursday in Kansas City.

The second half once again was when Texas was better. The Horns played stronger defense, limiting TCU to under 30 percent from the field and 20 percent from behind the arc in the final 20 minutes. Texas forced the issue on offense early, getting into the bonus quickly and converting 11-of-15 opportunities at the line.

But it was not enough to overcome the double-digit deficit. Issues that plagued Texas in the first half, like rebounding, were once again present in the second and especially in the final moments. The Longhorns needed a defensive board in order to get a chance to tie the game and couldn’t get it. That would go down as TCU’s 15th offensive rebound and 46th total rebound. Texas, in comparison, had 28 total rebounds.

Four Longhorns finished with 10-or-more points. Rice had 16 to lead Texas, followed by Tyrese Hunter’s 15. Marcus Carr and Dylan Disu each added 10 points, though Carr’ required a 4-of-16 shooting night to reach double figures.

Texas will look to set its best record in the double-round robin era of Big 12 play this Saturday versus the Jayhawks.