TCU Starts Strong, Defeats Buffs

BOULDER, Colo. – The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs raced out to a 12-0 lead in the opening six minutes and defeated the University of Colorado men's basketball team, 62-46, Wednesday night in a non-conference game at the Coors Events Center.

         CU shot a 28 percent in the first half (6-of-21), while the Horned Frogs countered with only 9-of-25 (36 percent), however capitalized on CU's 13 first half turnovers.

          Cory Higgins led the Buffs scoring with 16 points and eight rebounds. Austin Dufault added eight points, while Dwight Thorne II and Ryan Kelley each added six points.

         "The worst feeling for a coach is when your team doesn't play with emotion, discipline, or passion, and appears to just be disorganized," said CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik. "That's on me and it's a rotten feeling. We had a great crowd, great student body turn-out and it's really a shame we couldn't at least give any kind of effort.

            CU played without freshman starting point-guard Nate Tomlinson, who suffered a foot injury during the Arkansas-Pine Bluff game back on Nov. 14 and has played sparingly since. Tomlinson will have an MRI Thursday to determine his playing status.

            TCU kept the Buffaloes at bay in the first half holding the home team to only 14 points and a 10-point intermission advantage.

             The Buffs' 14 points in the first half mirrored the 14 scored in the first half last season at Nebraska (Mar. 9, 2008; CU lost 68-49). The 14 points was also the lowest in non-conference play since netting 14 at San Diego (Dec. 21, 1986; CU lost 61-51).

             TCU came out strong in the second half as Ronnie Moss hit six unanswered points increasing the visitors lead to 36-19.  Colorado came within 10 points on a layup by Levi Knutson, but the Horned Frogs went on a 8-0 run with six minutes remaining capped by a Kevin Butler layup. A three-pointer by Edvinas Ruzgas one minute later gave TCU their biggest lead at 60-36 with 3:15 remaining.

            In the second half, TCU hit 14-of-25 (56 percent) while Colorado improved to 52.4 percent (11-of-21). Both teams committed seven turnovers in the second half.

            Tonight was the first meeting between the two schools since 2005. TCU evens the all-time series at two.

            CU (3-3) is idle until next Wednesday, Dec. 10 when they host in-state rival Colorado State in a televised FSN RM broadcast. Tip is scheduled at 8:07 p.m. at the Coors Events Center.