FORT WORTH, Texas (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities and critical second-chance points, Texas Christian held off a late Baylor rally to secure a 69-63 victory in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Dickies Arena.

A crowd of 6,892 saw the Horned Frogs improve to 11-3 overall, while the Bears fell to 10-3. The game, a stark contrast to the offensive fireworks both teams had displayed in non-conference play, was decided by TCU’s ability to capitalize on Baylor’s offensive inefficiency and control the glass.

The most important stretch of the game came not in the frantic final minutes, but in the opening half where TCU established a defensive tone and a lead Baylor could never fully erase. After a sluggish start from both sides, the Horned Frogs used an 11-0 run, fueled by transition play and three-point shooting, to build a 29-23 halftime advantage. Baylor shot a frigid 32% from the floor in the first half, including 1-of-11 from three-point range, and committed seven turnovers that TCU converted into nine points.

Baylor’s offensive woes were encapsulated by a possession midway through the first half where they secured three consecutive offensive rebounds but missed four shots at point-blank range before TCU finally corralled the ball. The Bears finished the game shooting 37.3% overall and just 23.8% from beyond the arc.

TCU, while not much more efficient from the field at 38.3%, leveraged a significant advantage in offensive rebounding, grabbing 16 to Baylor’s 11. This led to a 19-4 edge in fastbreak points, as the Horned Frogs consistently turned defensive stops and long rebounds into immediate transition opportunities.

Micah Robinson, a 6-foot-6 junior from Kansas City, Missouri, was the top star for TCU, posting a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes. His work on the glass and defensive presence, including a key block in the second half, were instrumental. He was supported by Xavier Edmonds, who came off the bench to score 12 points, and David Punch, who added 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

Baylor was led by Cameron Carr’s 17 points, though the guard from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, needed 15 shots to reach that total. Dan Skillings and Tounde Yessoufou each added 13 and 10 points, respectively, but the Bears’ offense never found a consistent rhythm against TCU’s physical defense, which registered 10 blocks and six steals.

The second half saw both teams score 40 points apiece. Baylor chipped away at the deficit, closing to within four points on multiple occasions, the last at 64-60 following a three-pointer from Obi Agbim with 3:48 remaining. Each time, however, TCU answered. A driving hook shot from Brock Harding and a crucial tip-in by Robinson after a blocked shot kept the Bears at arm’s length.

Baylor had a final chance to threaten in the closing minute, down 66-63, but a rushed three-point attempt from Carr missed, and TCU secured the defensive rebound. The Horned Frogs then sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final seconds.

Beyond the shooting percentages, the game was a tale of possession efficiency. TCU scored 69 points on just 65 possessions, an offensive rating of 106.3. Baylor managed only 63 points on 68 trips, a rating of 93.3, underscoring their struggles to generate quality shots against a stout TCU defense.

The win gives TCU momentum heading into a difficult stretch of conference play, beginning with a trip to Kansas on Tuesday. Baylor, which entered the game having won four straight by an average of 43 points against lesser competition, must regroup quickly before hosting Iowa State on Wednesday. The two teams will meet again in Waco on Jan. 24.