Bragging rights retained: TCU knocks off SMU for second straight year
TCU kept its DFW basketball bragging rights for another year.
The Frogs overcame an early deficit and hung on for a 67-59 victory over SMU on Wednesday night at Moody Coliseum.
“Real happy with our guys,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. “How we did it, just found a way. And just getting better as the year goes on.”
TCU has won this matchup two consecutive years after SMU had won it five straight times. SMU still owns the all-time series record at 106-87.
TCU improved to 6-1 on the season and is now on a three-game winning streak. SMU fell to 6-4, snapping a four-game winning streak.
Jaylen Fisher and JD Miller led TCU in scoring with 15 points apiece.
TCU got off to a slow start in the first half. The Frogs trailed by as many as 10 points early on and were down 35-29 at half.
But TCU, as it’s done much of the season, got better in the second half. The defense played well, limiting SMU to just 24 percent from the field (8-for-33) and 7 percent from 3-point range (1-for-14).
The Frogs took a 42-41 lead with 12:32 left in the game on a driving layup by Desmond Bane. That marked the first time TCU led since the 12:02 mark of the first half.
But that lead was short-lived with SMU knocking down a 3-pointer on the next possession.
Eventually, though, TCU took the lead for good. Fisher knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Frogs a 49-47 lead with 10:29 left and they stayed in front the rest of the way.
Fisher’s three started a 12-4 run for TCU, which included a 3-pointer by Kouat Noi.
Fisher made four 3-pointers in the final half.
Asked about his second-half surge, Fisher said: “Energy. Once you’re making shots, you feel like you’ve got a purpose being out there. Bringing something to the team. I just feel I brought energy and it felt like it pushed us over the hump.”
TCU’s next game is against USC at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
This story was originally published December 5, 2018 at 11:05 PM.