Cowboys’ fast start not enough to get past TCU

STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State men’s basketball team’s close game woes continued in a 74-69 home loss to Texas Christian University on Tuesday evening at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

OSU (8-11 overall, 0-6 Big 12 Conference play) rode momentum from an 18-2 run to a 33-16 lead after 14 minutes, but TCU spanned halftime with a 23-4 push and took the lead for good with another 12-2 spurt late in the second half.

The Cowboys were within 72-69 on Jarius Hicklen’s free throw with 60 seconds left and had the ball with a chance to tie when TCU’s Micah Peavy missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 31 seconds left. Instead, Javon Small was whistled for a charge and the Horned Frogs made two free throws for the final margin.

John-Michael Wright led a group of four double-figure scorers with 16 points and Small added 15 points and seven assists for OSU, which fell to 0-6 in games decided by five points or less.

Eric Dailey Jr. added 13 points to go with 12 from Jarius Hicklen.

Emanuel Miller had a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds for TCU (14-5, 3-3), the Big 12’s oldest team. Eight of the 10 Horned Frogs who saw action were seniors.

OSU committed a season-low five turnovers and held a TCU team that came in leading the nation in fast-break points (22.2) to less than half of its average (10).

The Frogs made just 3-of-15 from 3-point range but converted 27-of-42 from inside the arc (.643) to finish at 52.6-percent shooting.

The Cowboys shot 41.2 percent from the field and hit 10-of-27 from deep (.370). It was their seventh time with 10-or-more 3s, exceeding their total from all of last season.

OSU center Brandon Garrison logged just 11 minutes due to foul trouble, and the Cowboys played much of the night with four guards on the floor. TCU capitalized with a 38-28 rebounding edge.

Four of Small’s assists came during an 18-2 run that staked the Cowboys to a 19-6 lead.

The margin grew to 33-16 near the six-minute mark on Bryce Thompson’s 3-pointer.

However, TCU ended the half on a 14-2 push to get within 37-33 and started the second half with another 9-2 run.

OSU missed nine straight shots over that stretch.

Wright calmed the waters with backto- back 3s and Dailey made a jumper during an 8-0 stretch that put the Cowboys back in front.

TCU reeled off five straight and the trading of baskets commenced.

Small made consecutive triples to give the Cowboys their final lead at 59-54 with 9:33 left, but they managed just one more field goal on 10 attempts.

TCU answered with another 12-2 run. Former Cowboy Avery Anderson III’s 3-pointer with 7:08 remaining provided the last of eight lead changes.

OSU converted 7-of-10 free throws but missed nine of its last 10 field goal attempts.

The Cowboys are home again at 1 p.m. Saturday against West Virginia.