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TCU’s unbeaten run ended in dramatic fashion Saturday night as Utah rallied in overtime to hand the Horned Frogs an 87-77 defeat at the Huntsman Center. The loss snappped TCU’s hot start and left coach Mark Campbell blunt about his team’s performance after a game full of momentum swings and late-game heroics.
Coach Mark Campbell’s frank reaction after the upset
Campbell did not sugarcoat the result. He said TCU had opportunities late but fell short when it mattered most. “We didn’t deserve the win,” he told reporters, adding that Utah simply outplayed his team and that TCU must improve.
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The tone was sober. Campbell praised parts of the effort but made clear the Horned Frogs could not ride confidence alone. He stressed the need to correct mistakes ahead of upcoming Big 12 matchups.
How the final minutes and overtime unfolded
TCU looked poised to escape regulation with the lead after a late spurt. A short, decisive run included two straight 3-pointers that flipped momentum in the Frogs’ favor.
- TCU pushed a 7-0 run late to take the lead with under a minute left.
- Utah missed two free throws that would have tied the score.
- Olivia Miles hit a free throw to extend TCU’s lead to three points.
- Lani White then drilled a contested 3-pointer to force overtime.
In the extra period, Utah never trailed. The Utes opened with a decisive run and maintained control, leaving TCU unable to recover.
Key turning points
- Lani White’s late 3 that tied the game at 67 kept Utah alive.
- Utah’s early overtime surge set the tone for the extra five minutes.
- Free-throw misses by Utah in regulation nearly cost them, but clutch shots later erased that threat.
Standout players and game numbers
Several players delivered big nights, yet shooting efficiency separated the teams.
- Olivia Miles led TCU with 31 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
- Marta Suarez added a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
- Lani White paced Utah with 25 points and hit the go-ahead long-range shots.
Shooting tells the tale. Utah connected on a high percentage from deep, making 13 3-pointers and converting more than half of their attempts from beyond the arc. TCU, by contrast, finished at about 37% from the floor and went 9-for-39 on 3s.
Implications for Big 12 play and the short-term schedule
The defeat drops TCU to 14-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. It is the Horned Frogs’ first loss of the season and a test of resilience midway through conference action.
Both teams move quickly to their next opponents:
- TCU hosts Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
- Utah travels to face Kansas in its next game.
The result will be examined closely by TCU as the team prepares to regroup and sharpen its defense and perimeter shooting for the upcoming stretch of Big 12 games.
