The crowd at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater was electric on Saturday night, but the Oklahoma State Cowboys couldn’t quite deliver the storybook ending their fans craved. In a game that had just about everything—runs, drama, and a heart-stopping finish—TCU outlasted Oklahoma State 95-92 in overtime, handing the Cowboys their third straight loss and complicating their NCAA Tournament hopes.
From the jump, it was clear the Horned Frogs (16-9, 6-6 Big 12 Conference) came ready to play. David Punch set the tone early, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds, and three steals before fouling out. Xavier Edmonds provided muscle in the paint, racking up a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jayden Pierre was a spark plug from beyond the arc, drilling four 3-pointers en route to 16 points, and adding six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Harding chipped in 15 points and three triples of his own as TCU shot a scorching 12-for-25 from deep.
But Oklahoma State (16-9, 4-8) refused to fold, even as they spent nearly the entire game chasing the Horned Frogs. According to Pistols Firing Blog, the Cowboys trailed for a whopping 43 minutes and 26 seconds of the 45-minute contest, and were never able to grab the lead. "It was the tale of Sisyphus. The Cowboys were just constantly pushing the boulder uphill all game," the outlet noted. Every time Oklahoma State made a run, TCU had a response. Anthony Roy’s early 3-pointer cut the deficit to two, but Pierre answered with back-to-back bombs. Jaylen Curry’s triple capped a 9-2 surge, only for Edmonds to immediately answer for TCU. This back-and-forth defined the night.
Despite the relentless deficit, the Cowboys’ resilience was on full display. Parsa Fallah, in particular, was nothing short of dominant. The big man poured in 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including 15 in the second half alone, and tied for the team-high with six rebounds. He started the second half on fire, scoring Oklahoma State’s first eight points with a series of low-post moves and free throws. Fallah also delivered the play of the night: a dramatic tip-in off a missed three-pointer by Curry at the regulation buzzer to knot the score at 84 and force overtime. "It’s hard, man. Losing games like that that we needed to win, it really is hard. But, I refuse to give up on this team, and I think all the players and all the coaches, we can not give up now," Fallah said after the game. "We’re not gonna give up, but it’s tough. It’s really tough. I don’t think any of the players will be happy right now and smiling, but at some point tomorrow, we just have to come back, get some work in and let it go."
The closing seconds of regulation were pure chaos. Down three, Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz desperately tried to call a timeout as Curry pushed the ball upcourt. The arena noise nearly drowned out his efforts, but he finally got the officials’ attention with 7.3 seconds left. After Curry hit two clutch free throws to cut the margin to one, TCU split a pair at the line, setting up the frantic final possession. Curry’s contested three clanged off the glass, but Fallah was perfectly positioned for the putback, sending the Stillwater faithful into a frenzy as the game headed to overtime.
In the extra session, TCU’s depth and shooting prowess proved decisive. Punch and Micah Robinson each scored four points in overtime, and Pierre’s timely three-pointer gave the Horned Frogs a 91-86 cushion they would not relinquish. Oklahoma State tried to claw back, but time ran out on their comeback bid. Pierre’s performance was particularly notable, as he finished with 16 points, including the dagger triple in overtime, and contributed across the board with rebounds, assists, and blocks.
For the Cowboys, the supporting cast had its moments. Anthony Roy finished with 16 points, while Kanye Clary added 13 points and nine assists before fouling out. Christian Coleman chipped in 13, and Curry provided a huge spark off the bench, tallying 12 points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. His +16 impact while on the floor underscored just how much the Cowboys relied on his energy in key stretches. Freshman Ben Ahmed also made his presence felt defensively and on the glass, recording five rebounds and a block in just 14 minutes of action.
The loss, though, was a gut punch for Oklahoma State’s postseason aspirations. The Cowboys entered the game on the NCAA Tournament bubble, and the defeat to fellow bubble team TCU counts as a Quad 1 loss. As Pistols Firing Blog observed, "The Cowboys’ NCAA Tournament hopes might be on life support, but they aren’t dead yet." Oklahoma State now sits at 6-3 in Quad 2 games, with four more Quad 1 opportunities remaining on the schedule. Coach Lutz, for his part, isn’t ready to throw in the towel. "Who the hell is giving up? Nobody should be giving up. We have a chance to still go to the NCAA Tournament. Last week when bracketology came out, we’re in. We did not play well at Arizona State. TCU’s right on the bubble with us, so did we need to win this game? Absolutely, but you got Kansas. You beat Kansas, you’re right back where you need to be," Lutz said. He added, "I don’t see anybody that’s quitting. I don’t see anybody that’s hanging their head around here. That’s not how things work at Oklahoma State. You gotta be tough. This league, it ain’t for the weak."
On the other side, TCU’s third consecutive win keeps their own tournament hopes alive. The Horned Frogs, fresh off a 62-55 upset of No. 5 Iowa State, now possess a 16-9 record and an even 6-6 mark in Big 12 play. With the win, they continue to build their resume for March, and their balanced attack—featuring six players in double figures—makes them a dangerous out for any opponent.
The Cowboys won’t have much time to dwell on this one. They’ll host No. 9 Kansas on Wednesday, February 18, in what’s shaping up to be a must-win contest for their tournament dreams. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on Peacock. TCU, meanwhile, will travel to face UCF on Tuesday, looking to keep their momentum rolling.
Saturday’s thriller in Stillwater was a testament to the drama and unpredictability of Big 12 basketball. For Oklahoma State, the margin for error is shrinking, but as Coach Lutz made clear, the fight is far from over. The next chapter awaits—will the Cowboys rise to the occasion?