Oklahoma Drubs TCU
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NORMAN, Okla.—TCU got off to a slow start Monday evening and was unable to recover, dropping a 75-48 decision to Oklahoma at the Sooners’ Lloyd Noble Center. Sophomore forward Devonta Abron led the Horned Frogs in defeat with game highs of 12 points and nine rebounds.
The setback dropped TCU season record to 10-14 overall, including 1-10 in Big 12 Conference play. Oklahoma improved to 16-7 overall and 7-4 in the Big 12.
Playing in its third game in six days, the Frogs recorded one of their worst offensive halves this season in the opening period. The squad missed its first 14 shots and went only 4-of-24 overall from the floor for the period while falling down by 25 points at intermission, 36-11. The 11 points marked the fewest in any half for TCU since at least the early 1970s, when records started being tracked.
The Frogs fared far better on the offensive end of the court in the second stanza, but it was too late. OU finished the contest making an even 50 percent of its field-goal attempts and went a perfect 14-of-14 at the free-throw line. The Sooners, who led by as many as 36 after the break, were much more successful at limiting mistakes than the Frogs, giving up only seven turnovers while forcing TCU into 16 giveaways.
Abron led TCU in scoring for the third time in Big 12 play, making 4-of-5 field-goal attempts and adding a 4-for-4 effort at the charity stripe. It marked his eighth double-figure effort of the season overall, while his nine boards were his second-best effort as a Frog.
Joining Abron in double figures were sophomore guard Kyan Anderson, who totaled 11 points with the help of three 3-pointers, and senior forward Connell Crossland, who chipped in
10 points and eight rebounds. Crossland, the reigning Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, has grabbed at least eight boards in four straight contests.
Only two Sooners reached double digits in points, although five others totaled at least eight on the evening. Forwards Amath M’Baye and Romero Osby led the squad with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Andrew Fitzgerald and Je’lon Hornbeak scored nine points each.
TCU finished the contest shooting only 30.2 percent from the field overall. It launched a season-high 21 3-point attempts, making five. It did manage to win the rebounding battle for the second consecutive game, 35-33, and pulled down 13 offensive boards.
TCU concludes its two-game road stretch Saturday, when it travels to Ames, Iowa, to take on Iowa State in a contest that will be televised live by The Big 12 Network. Tip-off from the Cyclones’ Hilton Coliseum is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
