TCU Horned Frogs Hold Off Late Eagle Rally in Opener

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FORT WORTH—TCU saw a 16-point second-half lead dwindle to only one point in the closing seconds of its season opener, but a big basket by senior guard Hank Thorns helped the Horned Frogs pull out a 73-72 victory over Florida Gulf Coast Friday night at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

TCU won its sixth consecutive season opener and its fifth in a row at home. The Frogs are a perfect 4-0 in openers in head coach Jim Christian’s tenure.

Thorns turned in the play of the night to help secure the TCU victory. Leading by two points in the game’s final seconds, Thorns scored on a scoop layup shot with only 11 seconds on the clock, beating both the shot clock and the Eagles’ zone defense to put TCU up by four, 73-69. The bucket proved to be huge, as FGCU guard Sherwood Brown drilled a long 3-pointer just six seconds later to pull the Eagles within one point.

After Thorns was fouled on the in-bounds play with 4.1seconds remaining and missed the front end of the one-and-one, a mad scramble for the ball resulted in the clock expiring, giving TCU the win.

Four Frogs scored in double figures Friday, including senior guard J.R. Cadot, who totaled a game-high 16 points. Cadot was a beast on the glass, pulling down seven rebounds. Two of his second-half boards resulted in putbacks, as he finished the contest 5-of-7 from the field for the game.

Three other TCU players scored 10 points each Thorns and juniors Garlon Green and Adrick McKinney. Thorns sank a pair of long 3-points, dished out five assists and added a game-high three steals. Green had back-to-back

dunks midway in the second half, including one on a behind-the-back pass from freshman guard Kyan Anderson.

Sophomore forward Amric Fields added nine points in his season debut.

Ten TCU players saw the floor in the season opener, including five newcomers: Anderson, junior guard Nate Butler, junior forward Connell Crossland, McKinney and senior forward Craig Williams. Butler and McKinney both earned starts.

The Frogs built their big second-half lead on the strength of a pressure defensive effort that forced the Eagles into 29 turnovers, the most in a game for a TCU opponent in nearly five seasons. The plays helped the Frogs post a 30-18 advantage in points off turnovers.

TCU needed the easy points, as FGCU had the hot touch from the field all evening. The Eagles finished the contest shooting a sizzling 61.4 percent from the floor (27-of-44) and 6-of-14 from 3-point range. The Frogs’ pressure defense did lead to several easy buckets in transition, though, as the Eagles outscored TCU 18-8 on the fast break.

FGCU had three players score in double figures, including freshman guard Bernard Thompson, who totaled 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting.Freshman guard Brett Comer recorded 12 points and five assists, while sophomore forward Chase Fieler also scored 12.

TCU continues its season-opening two game homestand Monday, when it plays host to Austin College at 7 p.m. at the DMC.

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