TCU
0-1,0-0Big 12
New Orleans
1-0,0-0Southland
TCU Falls in Opener to New Orleans
11/3/2025 11:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Punch ties career high with 19 points
FORT WORTH – A late rally wasn't enough as TCU's men's basketball team dropped its season-opener to New Orleans, 78-74, Monday in Schollmaier Arena.
The Horned Frogs (0-1) trailed by 21 points, 68-47, its largest deficit of the game with 7:24 to play. Two possessions later, TCU began a 20-2 run that spanned the next 6 minutes and 50 seconds to get within two points, 72-70, with 1:20 to play.
Following a Brock Harding jumper, TCU trailed 74-72 with 36.2 seconds to play. The other half of the Frogs' new backcourt duo, Jayden Pierre, stole the ball three seconds into UNO's possession. TCU had two chances to take their first lead since 4-2, but Pierre and Tanner Toolson each missed a 3-pointer. With TCU fouling to regain possession, UNO (1-0) made 4-of-6 free throw attempts in the final 18 seconds to seal the win.
David Punch finished with 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and added eight rebounds, all of which were career highs for the sophomore forward.
Micah Robinson came off the bench to score a career-high 14 points and a career-high six rebounds.
Xavier Edmonds and Pierre each scored 11 points to round out the double-figure scorers.
The Privateers shot 49.1 percent from the field and were led in scoring by Coleton Benson, who had a game-high 22 points. UNO outrebounded TCU 38-28.
The Horned Frogs shot 38.8 percent from the field, including 11.1 percent (3-of-27) from 3-point range.
TCU will return to action on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Saint Francis in a game televised by TNT. The contest is preceded by the TCU women's basketball game against North Carolina A&T at 4 p.m. One ticket for $15 is good for entry to both games.
NOTES
- TCU dropped to 2-1 all-time against New Orleans
- TCU snapped an 11-game winning streak in home openers and are now 78-37 in their first game of the season all-time
- Under Jamie Dixon, TCU moved to 103-18 against nonconference teams and 69-6 against nonconference teams in Schollmaier Arena.
- The Frogs had won 19-straight against nonconference opponents at home. The previous loss was against Northwestern State on Nov. 14, 2022.
- David Punch tied career highs in points (19), rebounds (8), field goals made (9) and field goals attempted (13).
- Micah Robinson set a new career high in points (14) and rebounds (6).
- Brock Harding had a career-high five steals. The last TCU player with at least five steals was Ernest Udeh Jr. last season, who had five against Kansas on Jan. 22.
