Frogs Use Huge 2nd Half to Top Vols, 75-63

They say, it's not how you start, it's how you finish.

After getting dominated for most of the first 20 minutes, TCU flipped the script and used a huge second half to run past Tennessee, 75-63. The win improves the Frogs to 10-11 on the year and a perfect 3-0 all-time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

The Volunteers carried a 41-27 lead into the intermission before TCU out-scored Tennessee 48-22 in the second half. The comeback was a true team effort, as four different Frogs contributed significantly to the charge. Chris Washburn, Brandon Parrish, Malique Trent, and Karviar Shepherd combined for 15 first half points before exploding for 41 in the second half. Trent finished with a team-high 15 points, with Washburn and Parrish each adding 14. Shepherd knocked in 13 more off the bench.

The Frogs and Vols traded blows for most of the first 9:00 before a Devon Baulkman three gave Tennessee an 18-16 lead about midway through the first half, sparking a 26-11 run that gave UT a 41-27 lead at the break. Whatever Trent Johnson said to motivate his team in the locker room worked, as the Frogs scored the first 10 points of the second half, setting the tone for the final frame.

Tennessee never found their rhythm in the second half, shooting just 23.5% in the final 20:00 to finish the game 33.3% overall from the field. The Frogs' benefited from some poor three-point shooting, as the Vols missed all 15 deep attempts in the second half. TCU also out-rebounded UT 46-41 thanks in part to Washburn's nine boards.

Per usual, Kevin Punter led the charge for Tennessee, scoring a game-high 24 points on 9/19 shooting from the field. Armani Moore was the only other double-digit scorer, knocking in 10 points while pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out six assists.

The win provided a much-needed shot in the arm for a TCU team that entered the day on a five-game losing streak. It also marks the first time that the program has defeated a Rick Barnes-coached team. The Frogs will snap back to reality quickly, as they travel to #1 Oklahoma on Tuesday before returning home to face #4 Kansas next weekend.