TCU Rallies Over Tulsa
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FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU trailed by 10 early in the second half, but a late 15-3 run allowed the Horned Frogs to defeat Tulsa Saturday at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, 70-58.
With the win, the Frogs improved to 8-3 on the year and swept the Golden Hurricane in the season series, having defeated Tulsa last month at the Great Alaska Shootout. Heading into the holiday break, TCU has now won four-straight and eight out of its last nine.
On the day, the Purple and White, who shot a blistering 87 percent from the charity stripe Saturday, received contributions from several individuals. Junior Kyan Anderson stole the show though, tallying a game-high 25 points on 7-of-15 from the field. The Fort Worth native has now posted back-to-back games of 27 and 25 points, respectively. Freshman Brandon Parrish was also solid, scoring a career-high 17 points, while also grabbing a career-high six boards.
For as good as Anderson and Parrish were, the Frogs would not have completed the comeback Saturday morning if it weren’t for the work of senior’s Thomas Montigel and Jarvis Ray. Montigel, who logged a season-high 20 minutes, finished the day with six points and three rebounds, which included several key plays in pivotal moments with the game still undecided. Ray pulled down a team and career-high nine boards Saturday, including three on the offensive end of the court.
Tulsa, who coming into the game had won three out of its last four, fell to
4-8 on the year. The Golden Hurricane were carried by James Woodard’s double-double. The sophomore tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds from his guard position. Rashad Smith was lone other UT player in double-figures, scoring 12 points.
Simply put, TCU stifled the Tulsa attack in the second half on the defensive end of the court as the Golden Hurricane made only seven buckets in the period, while shooting an ice cold 10 percent from behind the arc. For the game, the Purple and White forced Tulsa into 18 turnovers, while stealing the rock 10 times. TCU then turned those turnovers into points on the other end, totaling a 16-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
The two teams opened the second half going back and forth for the first couple of trips until Parrish rattled home a triple at the 14:31 mark to bring the scoreboard to 43-38. On the very next possession, Ray connected on a jumper and the Frogs were off and running, pulling within one at 43-42. By the time Anderson drove to the hole and found pay dirt, TCU was in the midst of a 7-0 run.
A few plays later, Montigel pushed the Purple and White ahead at 46-45, sinking two-straight at the charity stripe, but Tulsa kept its poise and regained the lead slightly before Ray found the bottom of the net off a dish from Anderson to move the Frogs back on-top, 48-47, with 11:01 showing on the clock.
A three-pointer by Parrish under the 10-minute mark not only excited the crowd but also the TCU defense as Charles Hill Jr. stole the rock on the very next possession and went coast-to-coast to give TCU a 53-47 lead at the 8:09 mark.
The Frogs would increase their advantage to 57-48 down the stretch, but Tulsa would not go away, climbing back to make it a seven-point lead with a minute to go before TCU put the finishing touches on its fourth-straight victory.
Parrish put the Frogs on the board two minutes into the contest, battling for a rebound and laying it back in to give TCU an early 2-0 lead. The two teams would battle the next couple of trips until Anderson tied the game at 6-6 with a step-back jumper at the 14:51 mark.
Tulsa jumped on top midway through at 15-8, but Anderson ended the mini 9-2 run, tickling the twine from deep to pull the Frogs within 15-11. The junior would make it 15-13 on the next trip, cashing in on two-straight at the charity stripe, but the Golden Hurricane would continue to push the tempo, going on a 12-4 run.
With the scoreboard reading 27-17 in favor of Tulsa, Christian Gore rattled home a triple for the corner, which seemed to ignite the Frogs at the 5:33 mark. Montigel then got into the act, finding the bottom of the net off an offensive rebound, which made the score 27-22 down the stretch.
In the final minutes of the first half, Anderson dropped a trey ball to cut into the deficit, but Tulsa took a 36-29 lead into the break.
TCU will close the non-conference portion of its schedule Sunday, Dec. 29 against Texas Southern. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. CT from Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
