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TEXAS-ARLINGTON'S COMEBACK ATTEMPT CUT SHORT BY FROGS, 71-63
Dec. 10, 2005
FORT WORTH, Texas - Sophomore Jermaine Griffin posted 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, but that wasn't enough as TCU staved off a Texas-Arlington comeback attempt, 71-63, Saturday evening at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. In the second half, the Mavericks (4-5) came out on a 20-11 run in the first nine minutes to cut the Horned Frog lead to 44-42 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the contest. A three pointer by freshman Brandon Long gave Texas-Arlington its first lead of the ball game, 47-46, with just over 10 minutes left in the game. Nile Murry canned a runner and two free throws to help put TCU (2-6) back on top, 51-47, with 7:43 remaining. The Horned Frogs increased their lead to 62-56, with 3:11 remaining in the game. The Mavericks came back once again as a Griffin layup cut the TCU lead to 64-60, with 1:17 remaining, but Brent Hackett's trey from the corner pushed the lead back to seven. The Frogs would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way as the Mavericks connected on only one more shot. "They killed us on second-chance points down the stretch," UTA head coach Eddie McCarter said. "When they were able to get a big rebound they were able to do that." Griffin posted his second double-double of the season, going 6-of-11 from the field, while senior Jarrett Howell added 16 points. Long finished the evening with 15 points, canning four treys in the process. Judson Stubbs led TCU with 22 points and 11 rebounds and Murry tallied 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. Hackett chipped in with 17 points. Texas-Arlington started the game on a cold streak, making only 1-of-6 shots from the field, while turning the ball over four times in the first five minutes. TCU ran out to an 11-2 lead with 15:09 remaining in the first half. Hackett had the hot hand for the Horned Frogs with five points during the stretch.
The Horned Frogs increased their lead to 23-10 at the 7:49 mark of the first half on the strength of four points by Murry. The Mavericks fought back, using a 6-1 run over the next four minutes, sparked by a three-pointer off of the bench by freshman Jeremy Dewalt. The run cut the TCU lead to 24-16 with 3:45 remaining. TCU increased the lead back out to 33-22 at the break with the help of four points by Murry and three from Hackett. Murry finished the first half with 10 points and Hackett added a game-high 11. "We take care of the basketball when we needed to," McCarter said. "We had too many turnovers tonight to win the ballgame." The Mavericks will be back in action Saturday when they travel to sunny California to take the University of San Diego. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. PST at Jenny Craig Pavilion. |
