TCU Falls To Texas Tech
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FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU ended the first half on a 16-1 run to take a one-point halftime lead, but just missed on some key opportunities in the second stanza of action, falling to Texas Tech Saturday at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, 60-49.
In game that could have gone either way following intermission, the Horned Frogs were able to overcome a slow start shooting wise, thanks in large part to an impressive showing at the free throw line and tough defense. For the game, the Frogs went 26-for-31 (.839) from the charity stripe. During the first period alone, TCU, who didn’t allow Texas Tech to score from the field for over nine minutes of action in the opening frame, shot 85.7 percent, going 12-of-14.
With the loss, the Purple and White moved to 9-8 overall and 0-5 in league play, while the Red Raiders improved to 10-8 and 2-3 in the Big 12.
Freshman Karviar Shepherd had a career outing Saturday, scoring a career-high 15 points, which included a 9-for-9 showing at the free throw line. The Dallas native, who logged a season-high 40 minutes, also added seven boards, three blocks and one steal. Junior Amric Fields was also productive, adding 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Dusty Hannahs carried the load for Texas Tech, scoring 13 points, while Dejan Kravic and Robert Turner both added 12 points apiece, respectively.
The Red Raiders came out on the attack during the second half, scoring the first
four points of the period before Fields dropped two-straight at the charity stripe to pull TCU within one at 27-26.
The two teams would go back and forth the next couple of trips, but Texas Tech was able to jump out to a 32-26 lead at the 14:32 mark of the second half. Freshman Michael Williams then went to work, driving by his defender and looping a shot over a Red Raider to inch the Frogs closer.
Shepherd followed Williams’ lead, out-muscling Texas Tech for a put-back on the next trip down the court, which made the score 34-31 in slight favor of the Red Raiders at the midway point.
With the scoreboard reading 39-34, senior Jarvis Ray found pay-dirt following up a Fields miss to pull the Frogs within three at the 8:09 mark of the second half. The Red Raiders responded though, scoring a three-point play to make the score read, 42-36.
Texas Tech jumped on top 48-42 a few plays later, but the Frogs continued to fight, making several key free throws down the stretch to pull within five with a little over two minutes remaining in the game.
Following a huge defensive stop late in the game, Shepherd connected on a tough three-point play with 1:26 to go in the contest to make the scoreboard read 51-48, but the Red Raiders were able to ice the game away at the line.
After falling behind 15-4 to open the contest, Shepherd got the Frogs going inside the paint, finishing on a turn-around floater at the 11:53 mark. Texas Tech continued to push the tempo on the offensive end, jumping on top 19-6 before Fields sank back-to-back free throws to inch the Purple and White closer.
With the scoreboard reading 23-12 in favor of the Red Raiders, Kyan Anderson rattled home a trey ball to give the Frogs some life down the stretch. On the next possession, TCU got defensive, forcing Texas Tech into a shot clock violation before Fields soared to the bucket on two-straight trips to make it 23-19 with a little over two minutes to go in the half.
By the time freshman Brandon Parrish tickled the twine from the corner, the Frogs were in the midst of a 16-1 run, which propelled them to a 24-23 lead at the break. During the run, the Frogs relentless defensive pressure didn’t allow Texas Tech to score from the field from the 9:32 mark till halftime.
TCU will return to the road on Wednesday, Jan. 22 to battle Oklahoma. Start time is set for 8:00 p.m. CT from Norman.
