Feb 23, 2019; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Michael Jacobson (12) grabs a rebound past TCU Horned Frogs forward JD Miller (15) during the first half at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Cyclones gave themselves a chance on Saturday in Fort Worth, but Lindell Wigginton’s shot to tie TCU with less than a second on the clock hit off the top of the backboard as time expired, sealing a 75-72 win for the Horned Frogs.
Wigginton’s shot came shortly after Talen Horton-Tucker had an open look from 3-point range, also looking to tie the score, that rimmed off. TCU has now won four-straight games against the Cyclones and basically sunk any sort of outside chances Iowa State would have had at making a Big 12 title run.
The Cyclones struggled mightily towards the end of the first half and beginning of the second 20 minutes, allowing the Horned Frogs to build a 10-point lead shortly before halftime. But, unlike in the Cyclones’ loss to the same team two weeks ago, they were able to claw their way back into the game and took a one-point lead roughly halfway through the second half.
Behind 20 points from Kouat Noi, who was playing in his first game since returning from an injury that forced him to miss the team’s last three contests, the Horned Frogs never allowed Iowa State’s lead to get larger than four points and had an answer for every punch the Cyclones threw their way.
Iowa State was led by 17 points from Michael Jacobson on 7-of-11 shooting plus seven rebounds. Wigginton finished the game with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting and 1-of-5 from 3-point range.
As a team, the Cyclones shot just 2-of-20 from deep and started the game 0-of-10 from behind the arc. In the first halves of both games against TCU this season, the Cyclones have combined to go 1-of-20 from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, TCU knocked down 9-of-22 shots from behind the 3-point line. They also collected 16 offensive rebounds on 34 missed shots, further compounding what has been become a consistent problem for Iowa State this season, including Tuesday’s loss to Baylor in Hilton Coliseum in which they allowed 18 offensive rebounds to the Bears.
The loss drops Iowa State to three games back of Big 12 leading Kansas State, who plays Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Cyclones will now have a quick turnaround with Oklahoma visiting Hilton Coliseum for a 7 p.m. tip on ESPN2.
The Sooners narrowly edged Texas on Saturday 69-67 in Norman.
