No. 10 Houston Looks to Bounce Back Against TCU

The Cougars suffered their first Big 12 loss of the season against Texas Tech, while the Horned Frogs are coming off a win over Baylor.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 2:31pm

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No. 10 Houston will look to rebound from its first Big 12 loss of the season as it challenges TCU on Wednesday night in Fort Worth, Texas. Houston (17-2, 5-1) fell 90-86 at then-No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday despite Kingston Flemings' 42-point performance, snapping their 11-game winning streak. TCU (13-7, 3-4) is coming off a 97-90 win over Baylor and is looking for another signature victory, though the availability of leading scorer David Punch is in question due to illness.

Why it matters

This matchup features two Big 12 teams looking to make a statement. Houston is trying to bounce back from its first conference loss, while TCU is hoping to build on its recent win over Baylor and prove it can compete with the league's top teams.

The details

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson brushed off questions about officiating, instead pointing to the Red Raiders' 21-11 advantage in offensive rebounds as the key factor in the loss. The Cougars have multiple scoring threats, led by Flemings' 17.0 points per game, followed by Emanuel Sharp (16.1) and Milos Uzan (11.3). TCU is led by Punch's 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, but his status is uncertain due to illness. The Horned Frogs have gone 1-4 against ranked teams this season, with their lone victory over then-No. 10 Florida on Nov. 27.

  • Houston (17-2, 5-1) fell 90-86 at then-No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday.
  • TCU (13-7, 3-4) completed a regular-season sweep of Baylor on Saturday.

The players

Kelvin Sampson

The head coach of the Houston Cougars basketball team.

Kingston Flemings

A Houston player who scored 42 points in the loss to Texas Tech.

David Punch

The leading scorer (14.6 points per game) and rebounder (7.8 per game) for the TCU Horned Frogs, who missed the Baylor game due to illness.

Jamie Dixon

The head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs basketball team.

Jayden Pierre

A TCU player who scored 25 points in the win over Baylor.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not going to sit here and (complain) about the referees when they kicked our a-- the way they did on the offensive glass. So I'm not into that narrative. I don't even care about the whistle right now. I care about getting our guys better at the things that we can get better at.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars Head Coach

“We're really excited about how we did it, what we did except for the rebounding. Offensively, we were good. We kept attacking ... happy with the win.”

— Jamie Dixon, TCU Horned Frogs Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game will be a test of resilience for the No. 10 Houston Cougars as they look to bounce back from their first Big 12 loss of the season. Meanwhile, the TCU Horned Frogs have an opportunity to secure another signature win and continue their recent momentum.