FORT WORTH, Texas – Kansas's road to a possible 13th straight Big 12 championship promises to be bumpy this season.

But the third-ranked Jayhawks passed their first test after they stiff-armed TCU 86-80 on Friday night at Shollmaier Arena.

Kansas guard Frank Mason III had 22 points and seven assists and forward Landon Lucas had 15 points and 17 rebounds.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self didn't dole out many compliments after the game. He was particularly critical of Kansas' defense. But he applauded Lucas' effort.

"Landon probably had his best game he's had this year without question," Self said.

The Jayhawks (12-1) never led by more than nine points in the second half but never trailed either as they outlasted the Horned Frogs (11-2).

Kansas guard Lagerald Vick came off the bench to score 17 points, forward Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk added 12 and guard Devonte' Graham had 11 as the Jayhawks kept answering.

Forward Vladimir Brodziansky led TCU with 28 points and guard Kenrich Williams added 11 points and 11 boards.

But the Horned Frogs gave up 15 turnovers that Kansas turned into 20 points.

"Down the stretch, (the turnovers) hurt us a lot," Williams said. "To win games, you can't turn the ball over. That's something we'll fix going into the next game."

Brodziansky had a dunk to cut the Jayhawks' lead to 71-68 with 6:17 remaining. But Kansas answered by scoring five straight points, including a layup by forward Josh Jackson and a 3-pointer by forward Sviatoslav Mykhailiu.

TCU made one final push to overtake Kansas when Brodziansky got to the basket for a layup, then guard Alex Robinson came up with a steal and a breakaway basket to cut the Jayhawks' lead to four points with 2:35 to go.

Kansas answered with baskets by Graham and Mason to stretch the margin back to eight.

Lucas said the Jayhawks' offense keys on Mason.

"He's been that guy for us for the last couple of years," Lucas said. "He gives us kind of someone to look to."

Mason and Lagerald Vick scored 12 points apiece to lead Kansas as it scratched and clawed for a 48-44 lead at halftime.

TCU started the game on a 7-0 run as Williams hit a 3-pointer and Brodziansky got to the basket for a layup and a dunk.

The Horned Frogs kept it going from there as guard Brandon Parrish came off the bench to hit two 3-pointers midway through the first half. Parrish's second trey put TCU in front 22-12 with 11:02 left.

"TCU was in great rhythm offensively early in large part because we didn't do anything to make them play poorly," Self said.

Kansas started cold, hitting five of its first 18 shots from the field. But then the Jayhawks warmed up by making five straight from the field and Mason added four free throws during a 14-4 run to tie it at 26 with 8:08 remaining in the first half.

"We knew we had to turn something around," Lucas said. "I think we got some good momentum, some guys stepped up. Lagerald was big for us. We felt the momentum kind of switch back to us."

Mykhailiuk hit a 3-pointer from the corner, near the TCU bench, to give the Jayhawks their first lead at 29-28 with 7:24 left before the break.

Brodziansky led TCU with 15 points in the first half and Williams added 11.

Despite the slow start, Kansas shot 50 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes. TCU was close behind at 48 percent.

"It was an exciting game," TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. "It was two high-level teams playing and I think our fans have to be really excited about this team."

NOTES: Kansas was playing its second game this season without C Udoka Azubuike, who suffered a wrist injury in practice on Dec. 20. Azubuike tore ligaments in his left wrist, which required season-ending surgery. ... TCU's 11-1 record signaled the second time in three seasons that the Horned Frogs came into Big 12 play on a hot streak. TCU was 13-0 entering conference play in 2014-15 but finished with a 4-14 Big 12 record. ... Kansas extended its winning streak to 26 straight in conference openers, a run that predates the Big 12, which began play in 1996-97.