What a night it was at Allen Fieldhouse as the No. 22 Kansas Jayhawks delivered a thrilling comeback, erasing a daunting 16-point deficit to outlast the TCU Horned Frogs 104-100 in overtime on January 6, 2026. For fans in Lawrence, Kansas, this was more than just a Big 12 showdown—it was a testament to grit, resilience, and some good old-fashioned late-game drama.
Trailing by as many as 16 points midway through the second half, Kansas looked to be in real trouble. TCU, riding high on an 18-1 run, had built a commanding 67-51 lead with under 12 minutes to play. The Horned Frogs seemed poised to notch a statement road victory, with Jayden Pierre and Tanner Toolson knocking down back-to-back threes, the latter beating the shot clock in style. But if there’s one thing Allen Fieldhouse is known for, it’s wild turnarounds—and the Jayhawks were just getting started.
“We just kept telling each other to fight,” said Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr., who finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. “No matter how far down we were, we believed we could come back.”
The Jayhawks began to chip away at the lead, but the Frogs answered nearly every run. With just over four minutes left, Kansas still trailed by 15. Even after a late surge, they were down by nine with 74 seconds left in regulation—a situation that would have spelled doom for most teams. But not these Jayhawks.
Enter Darryn Peterson. The freshman phenom, who has battled leg injuries all season, had spent much of the final minutes on the bench. But when Kansas needed a miracle, he was ready. With 1.7 seconds left and Kansas down by three, Peterson drew a foul beyond the arc. The pressure? Immense. The stakes? Sky-high. But Peterson stepped to the line and coolly drained all three free throws, tying the game and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
“I just focused on my routine and blocked everything out,” Peterson said after the game. “Coach told me to trust my shot, so that’s what I did.”
Peterson’s heroics capped a 32-point night in just 32 minutes of play. Remarkably, he did not play in the overtime period, still hampered by his lingering injury, but his clutch performance in regulation had already cemented his place as the night’s hero.
Overtime belonged to the Jayhawks. Kansas jumped out to an 8-2 run, grabbing a 97-91 lead with just over a minute to go. Council Jr. was the engine, pouring in nine of his 18 points in the extra session. The Jayhawks were nearly flawless at the free-throw line in overtime, converting 9 of 11 attempts. TCU, meanwhile, faltered, going just 2 for 4 from the stripe in the same period—a costly difference when every point mattered.
Tre White added 22 points for Kansas, providing steady scoring throughout. Flory Bidunga, the Jayhawks’ imposing forward, chipped in 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds, including a crucial tip-in with just over six seconds left in regulation that set the stage for Peterson’s game-tying free throws. Bidunga’s presence in the paint was felt on both ends, and his hustle plays kept Kansas within striking distance when things looked bleak.
“Flory was huge for us tonight,” said Council Jr. “Those second-chance points and rebounds kept us alive.”
The Horned Frogs, for their part, put up a valiant fight. Liutauras Lelevicius led TCU with a career-high 23 points, drilling five 3-pointers and shooting an efficient 7 for 9 from the field. He also pulled down six rebounds, providing a spark every time Kansas threatened to close the gap. David Punch, ever reliable, tallied his 10th consecutive double-digit game with 20 points and nine rebounds. Jayden Pierre and Micah Robinson each added 16 points, rounding out a balanced TCU attack that kept Kansas on its heels for most of the night.
But missed opportunities plagued the Frogs down the stretch. Costly turnovers, missed free throws, and foul trouble allowed Kansas to creep back into the contest. The game featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes, a testament to its back-and-forth nature and the intensity both teams brought to the floor.
“We let one slip away,” admitted TCU’s Lelevicius. “We played hard, but you have to finish games against teams like Kansas.”
The win improved Kansas’s record to 11-4 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play, a much-needed bounce-back after a tough conference opener. The Jayhawks now set their sights on a Saturday road trip to West Virginia, where they’ll look to build on this momentum. TCU, now also 11-4 and 1-1 in the Big 12, will host No. 1 Arizona in what promises to be another high-stakes matchup.
For Kansas, the victory was not just another notch in the win column. It was a showcase of mental toughness, depth, and the ability to deliver in crunch time. Even as TCU seized control with their second-half run, the Jayhawks refused to fold. The crowd at Allen Fieldhouse, always a factor, roared with every comeback bucket and defensive stop, fueling the home team’s belief.
Peterson’s performance, in particular, will be remembered for years to come. His calm under pressure, especially given his injury concerns, was nothing short of remarkable. And with Council Jr. and White providing steady leadership, Kansas showed that they have the firepower and composure to compete with anyone in the Big 12.
As the dust settles on this instant classic, one thing is clear: in Lawrence, comebacks are always possible, and the Jayhawks never stop fighting. With a tough conference schedule ahead, Kansas will need every ounce of that resilience. But for one unforgettable Tuesday night, they proved that no deficit is too great and no moment too big.
Next up, Kansas heads to West Virginia, while TCU prepares to host top-ranked Arizona. If this game was any indication, both teams are primed for more fireworks as the Big 12 season heats up.
