Kansas basketball vs TCU final score, highlights: KU advances with win

Updated March 12, 2026, 11:10 p.m. CT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Kansas basketball and TCU faced off Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference’s men’s tournament, and KU came away with a 78-73 win.

The Jayhawks were the No. 3 seed for this matchup, and the Horned Frogs the No. 6 seed. Kansas had to battle inconsistent play over the course of the matchup, but was able to outlast a tough TCU team that arrived as one of the hottest in the nation. The Jayhawks advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament, with a game on Friday against the No. 2 seed, Houston.

Here is what happened inside the T-Mobile Center:

UPDATE: 11:08 p.m. (CT): FINAL: Kansas 78, TCU 73

UPDATE: 10:45 p.m. (CT): Kansas leads 64-61 with 5:26 left in 2nd Half

Tre White just hit a huge 3-pointer for the Jayhawks, who now lead by three points with about five and a half minutes left in regulation. KU does have to finish this half knowing that Flory Bidunga has four fouls, but at least for now it holds a slim lead. Losing Bidunga would put Kansas in a tough spot on both ends of the court.

UPDATE: 10:37 p.m. (CT): TCU leads 59-57 with 7:15 left in 2nd Half

It’ll be interesting to follow how TCU handles its foul trouble here late, with Micah Robinson and Xavier Edmonds each having four fouls. Both players are starters for the Horned Frogs, who hold a two-point lead with a little more than seven minutes left in the second half. Kansas’ foul trouble is centered on Tre White and Flory Bidunga, who each have three fouls.

UPDATE: 10:21 p.m. (CT): TCU leads 48-47 with 11:48 left in 2nd Half

Something to note here, on top of the fact KU is now down just one point and will have the ball coming out of this break, the Jayhawks are also in the bonus. So far tonight, the Jayhawks are shooting 12-for-17 from the free throw line. TCU is not that close to being in the bonus right now, and for the game is 6-for-9 from the free throw line.

UPDATE: 10:13 p.m. (CT): TCU leads 47-41 with 14:01 left in 2nd Half

A defensive lapse just now from Darryn Peterson led to a wide open 3-pointer for TCU, which the Horned Frogs hit to go up six points with about 14 minutes left in the second half. Kansas just has no momentum right now on the offensive end, failing to take advantage of the issues TCU’s experienced itself on offense, too. KU coach Bill Self called a timeout to force this break, to talk things over with his team, and time will tell if how the Jayhawks come out of the timeout will lead him to being any less frustrated than he is right now.

UPDATE: 10:06 p.m. (CT): Kansas and TCU are tied 40-40 with 15:40 left in 2nd Half

If Kansas fans were looking for their team to go on an early run in the second half, and make this not a stressful watch, that hasn’t happened. Both teams are struggling to hit shots right now, and the score is tied at 40-40 with a little less than 16 minutes left in regulation. Kansas might have a slight advantage rebounding right now, and with second-chance points, but the Jayhawks do still need to improve defensively at not giving TCU extra possessions.

UPDATE: 9:40 p.m. (CT): HALFTIME: TCU 34, Kansas 31

UPDATE: 9:28 p.m. (CT): Kansas leads 28-23 with 4:16 left in 1st Half

Darryn Peterson just nailed a 3-pointer to push Kansas’ lead to 28-23 with a bit more than four minutes remaining in the first half. The Jayhawks are on a 12-0 run right now, as TCU hasn’t scored in more than three minutes. Peterson is up to seven points, and he leads KU in scoring at this point.

UPDATE: 9:19 p.m. (CT): TCU leads 23-16 with 7:06 left in 1st Half

Kansas coach Bill Self was shaking his head recently as Flory Bidunga exited the game with a second foul in the first half, but now he’s having to turn to him again in this first half considering how poor the Jayhawks are playing. KU trails by seven points with about seven minutes left before halftime. Kansas has only hit one of its last nine shots from the field.

UPDATE: 9:07 p.m. (CT): TCU leads 12-11 with 11:28 left in 1st Half

Kansas had been getting away with some lackluster effort on offense, but now TCU’s shots are falling and the Horned Frogs hold a slim lead with about 11 and a half minutes left in the first half. KU coach Bill Self has been routinely getting upset at what’s been happening on the offensive end for his Jayhawks. Darryn Peterson is going to the free throw line after this break, and if he hits those attempts it’ll be his first shots of the game.

UPDATE: 8:58 p.m. (CT): Kansas leads 7-0 with 15:52 left in 1st Half

TCU has gone more than four minutes without scoring, and Kansas leads 7-0 with a little less than 16 minutes left in the first half. Darryn Peterson hasn’t scored yet for the Jayhawks, but they haven’t needed him to be a force offensively just yet. Melvin Council Jr., who’s hit a 3-pointer, leads all scorers with five points.

Pregame

Check out the starting lineups

Here is the Big 12 player availability report on game day

Kansas coach Bill Self previews game

Kansas basketball vs TCU game time

Date: Thursday, March 12
Time: 8:30 p.m. (CT)
Location: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri

What channel is Kansas basketball vs TCU game on today?

Kansas basketball’s game against TCU will be broadcast on ESPN2. Streaming options include ESPN+. The winner moves on to the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.

Kansas basketball vs TCU betting line

Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of Thursday, March 12

Spread: Kansas by 5.5
O/U: 143.5

Kansas basketball 2025-26 schedule

Here’s a look at Kansas’ last three games:

Feb. 28 (away): Arizona — Kansas lost 84-61
March 3 (away): Arizona State — Kansas lost 70-60
March 7 (home): Kansas State — Kansas won 104-85

TCU basketball 2025-26 schedule

Here’s a look at TCU’s last three games:

March 3 (away): Texas Tech — TCU won 73-65
March 7 (home): Cincinnati — TCU won 73-63
March 11 (neutral): Oklahoma State — TCU won 95-88

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