TCU
7-3,0-0Big 12
Incarnate Word
5-6,1-2Southland
Punch Leads TCU to Comeback Win over UIW, 69-65
12/15/2025 11:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sophomore forward records second-straight double-double
FORT WORTH – David Punch scored 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half to help lead TCU to a 69-65 comeback win over Incarnate Word Monday night in Schollmaier Arena.
The Horned Frogs (7-3) trailed most of the game and by as many as 14 points with 9:25 to play in the first half.
After chipping away at the deficit all game, TCU took its first lead since it was 4-3, after Punch tipped in his own miss under the basket to make it 59-58 with 6:31 remaining. It was one of Punch's career-high 13 rebounds.
UIW's Davion Bailey drained his ninth 3-pointer of the game to tie it at 65-65 with 1:11 remaining. TCU's Brock Harding tipped in his missed jump shot to regain the lead, 67-65, with 38 seconds left. The Cardinals (5-6) turned the ball over on a bad pass by Tahj Staveskie, who then fouled Harding.
Harding hit both free throws with 13.9 seconds left to put TCU up four. A shot by Staveskie missed to give TCU the win.
Harding scored six of TCU's final eight points of the game and finished with 13. Liutauras Lelevicius also scored 13 points.
Punch was a force on the defensive end as well, recording five of TCU's season-high nine blocked shots.
The Horned Frogs will play their second of three games in a seven-day period when they host Oral Roberts on Thursday at 7 p.m. Tickets are as low as $10 as TCU's Holiday Hoops continues throughout December.
TEAM NOTES
- It was the first-ever meeting between TCU and Incarnate Word.
- TCU improved to 4-3 at home this season.
- TCU improved to 91-21 under Jamie Dixon in November and December games combined.
- TCU improved to 110-20 against nonconference teams under Dixon, including 73-7 in Schollmaier Arena.
- TCU trailed 37-31 at halftime. It was the exact same as TCU's previous game when it trailed North Texas 37-31 at the half.
- TCU tied a season low with eight turnovers (Notre Dame). The Frogs had just one turnover in the second half.
- TCU outrebounded UIW, 33-29. The Frogs improved to 6-0 this season, 146-44 under Jamie Dixon and 155-44 since the 2015-16 season when outrebounding their opponent.
- TCU shot 47.1 percent and held UIW to 43.9 percent. The Frogs improved to 117-3 when outrebounding and outshooting their opponent from the field under Dixon.
- TCU had a season-high nine blocked shots.
- TCU's 14-point deficit was its largest in a win this season. The Frogs trailed Florida by 10 earlier this season before winning by four points.
- UIW's Davion Bailey was 9-of-18 from three for 32 points. It was the most by a TCU opponent since Makai Mason of Baylor made 9-of-12 on Feb. 2, 2019.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- David Punch recorded his second-career double-double in as many games. He had 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
- Punch tied a career high with five blocked shots. He has at least one block in all 10 games this season. The last player with such a streak was Kevin Samuel in 2020-21 with 11.
- Punch led TCU in rebounding for the seventh time this season.
- Punch was 7-of-9 from the free throw line, tying a career high in makes and setting a new career high in attempts.
- Liutauras Lelevicius had a season-best 6-of-6 effort from the free throw line. He's made all 18 free throw attempts this season.
- Tanner Toolson tied a career high with two blocked shots.
- Toolson had a season-high four rebounds.
- Brock Harding scored in double figures for the fifth time this season with 13.
- Harding finished with a season-low three assists.
- Jayden Pierre went 1-for-5 from 3-point range. He's made a three in nine of 10 games this season.
