Iowa State drops the ball late to TCU, 79-76

Following a stretch of embarrassing, lopsided losses, Iowa State has looked a bit as of the last couple games, though both still ended in losses to West Virginia and Oklahoma, respectively. Tonight, Iowa State headed to Arlington to take on TCU, who’s struggled this season nearly as much as Iowa State.

After a slow start that saw TCU take an early 9-2 lead, Jalen Coleman-Lands scored on a few possessions and helped the Cyclones claim a lead that extended as far as nine points throughout the first half. Strong finishes and a few threes from Tyler Harris helped keep the Horned Frogs at arm’s length for most of the first half, but poor closeouts and a few costly turnovers allowed TCU to eventually tie the game heading into halftime.

Rasir Bolton led the team with ten points at the half, with Jalen Coleman-Lands, Tyler Harris, Javan Johnson, and Jaden Walker scoring five, six, seven, and eight points, respectively. Bolton and Tre Jackson led the team in rebounds with three each.

The second half started much the same, with Iowa State and TCU largely going bucket-for-bucket for a good portion of the second half, but both teams eventually went cold from the field, going a combined 3-20 from the field at one point,

Unfortunately for the Cyclones, TCU was the first to break out of their slump, eventually making a string of tough finishes at the rim and relying on Iowa State’s continued shooting woes to extend their lead to five as the clock struck two minutes remaining.

Free throws from Rasir Bolton and Jalen Coleman-Lands kept the Cyclones within a couple of possessions through the final two minutes of the game, but poor defense at the rim and an even worse effort on the glass ultimately doomed the Cyclones, with TCU grabbing a handful of critical offensive rebounds late in the game.

Through that free throw shooting, Iowa State found itself down just three points with 13 seconds left in the game. Jaden Walker stole the inbound pass! Then passed to up to Tre Jackson who AIR-BANKED A 28 FOOTER WITH 11 SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME. No worries though, we have time to get a rebound and get up another shot. Wait, TCU got the rebound? WHY IS NOBODY FOULING?! Ball game.

Up next is Kansas on Thursday at Allen Fieldhouse.