TCU
3-2,0-0Big 12
Kansas City
1-4,0-0Summit League
Defense Closes Out Kansas City in 81-45 Win
11/19/2025 11:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Roos shoot 23.2 percent from the field
FORT WORTH – A 17-0 start set the tone for the game as TCU clamped down on defense and made 14 3-pointers in an 81-45 win over Kansas City at Schollmaier Arena on Wednesday.
The Horned Frogs (3-2) forced 18 turnovers and held the Roos (1-4) to 23.2 percent shooting from the field. It was the lowest percentage by a TCU opponent since Texas Tech shot 22.9 percent on Jan. 17, 2015.
TCU never trailed in the game as its 17-point lead after seven minutes of play turned into 23 at the half after the Frogs shot 48.6 percent from the field.
TCU's shooting cooled off in the second half, making 30.3 percent from the field. Still, the Frogs made 7-of-16 3-point attempts, matching the exact number shot and attempted in the first half.
Jayden Pierre and Liutauras Lelevicius did most of the damage from beyond-the-arc. Pierre made a career-best five on eight attempts for a season-high 17 points. Lelevicius made a career-high four out of five to finish with a season-best 16 points. Brock Harding also made multiple 3-pointers going 2-for-4.
David Punch flirted with a triple-double throughout the game and finished with eight points and a career-high nine rebounds and seven assists.
TCU will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 27 against No. 10 Florida in the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego, Calif. Tip will be at 2 p.m. CT and air on FS1.
TEAM NOTES
- It was the first meeting all-time between TCU and Kansas City.
- TCU improved to 72-7 against nonconference teams in Schollmaier Arena under Dixon.
- TCU improved to 49-9 in the month of November under Dixon.
- TCU held Kansas City to 23.2 shooting from the field. It was the lowest percentage by a TCU opponent since Jan. 17, 2015, when Texas Tech shot 22.9 percent. It is also the second lowest since at least the 1996-97 season.
- The 23.2 percent shooting by Kansas City was the sixth-lowest by a team so far this season.
- Kansas City's 45 points scored was the fewest by a TCU opponent since Texas A&M Commerce scored 42 on Jan. 1, 2024.
- TCU made 14 3-pointers on 32 attempts. It was the most threes in a game for the Frogs since making 14 against Florida A&M in the season-opener last season.
- The Frogs had a season-high 12 steals.
- TCU shot a season-best 86.7 percent (13-of-15) from the field.
- TCU outrebounded KC, 50-36. The Frogs improved to 3-0 this season, 143-44 under Dixon and 152-44 since the 2015-16 season when outrebounding their opponent.
- TCU's 50 rebounds were its most since bringing down 55 against Texas A&M Commerce on Jan. 1, 2024.
- Kansas City scored 17 points in the second half, the fewest points by a TCU opponent in a half since Mississippi State scored 20 in the first half on Dec. 18, 2022.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Jayden Pierre scored 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. The five threes tied a career high. He also made five on Feb. 15, 2025 vs. Villanova. Pierre has made a three in five-straight games.
- Pierre tied a career high with six rebounds. He also had six against Butler on March 12, 2025.
- Brock Harding finished with four steals. He's had multiple steals in all five games this season.
- Harding was 2-of-4 from three. He has made at least one 3-pointer in three-straight games.
- Liutauras Lelevicius scored a season-high 16 points.
- Lelevicius made a career-high 4-of-5 from 3-point range. His previous high was three last at San Diego on Jan. 4, 2025.
- Micah Robinson was 1-of-3 from 3-point range and has hit at least one three in five-straight games.
- David Punch brought down a career-high nine rebounds and had a career-high seven assists. His previous career best in assists was three.
- Vianney Salatchoum had his best game as a Horned Frog, finishing with six points and four rebounds.
