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TCU Defeats Rice 65-63

It wasn't pretty, as the Frogs almost blew a big lead, but they still pulled out the win.

Kevin C. Cox

Garlon Green lead the way for TCU, accounting for almost half of the Frogs scoring output for the night with 31 points. It was a career high for the senior, who also played the entire game for TCU against the Owls.

Adrick McKinney added a double double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds as the Frogs watched a 14 point halftime lead slowly slip away before hanging on to get the win.

TCU led 34-20 at the half, with Green putting up 18 points in the first 20 minutes of the game.

It was a completely different game in the second half though, as Rice made an effort to be more aggressive on their way to cutting into the deficit.

TCU went on a 7-3 run to open the second half, pulling away to a 41-23 lead and making the game seem as if it was over. But then, led by 16 second half points from Tamir Jackson, Rice cut into the lead, reaching to within 3 points on multiple occasions.

With 13 seconds left and the Frogs up 4-63, Jackson fouled Kyan Anderson, who went one of two from the free throw line. Jackson, who scored 25 points to lead Rice on the night, missed the potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Frogs out rebounded Rice 36-17, including pulling down 12 offensive rebounds to only 1 for the Owls. Along with McKinney, Connell Crossland also had double digit rebounds with 11, to go along with nine points.

TCU shot 48.9% from the floor, including 66.7% from three point range. It was the second straight game TCU shot 50% or better from three point range. In the Southern and Rice games combined, the Frogs are 10-17 from deep.

Free throw shooting was questionable again, as TCU only made 15 of 24 from the charity stripe. Every Frog to take a free throw missed at least one, except for Chris Zurcher.

TCU is now 8-4 on the season, and has an eight day layoff until their next game, when they face off against Mississippi Valley State in Fort Worth. It should be noted that the Delta Devils have not won a game this season and opponents are averaging 78.5 points per game against them.

Needless to say, it will be very disappointing if TCU isn't 9-4 headed into conference play.