Undefeated TCU cruises past UTSA, climbs to 11-0
The TCU men’s basketball team continued its best start ever Saturday with an 88-57 victory over UT San Antonio at Wilkerson Greines Activity Center.
The Horned Frogs (11-0) pulled away late in the first half after the lead changed hands three times in the game’s first 15 minutes. The Frogs’ 20-6 run to end the first half came behind opportunistic buckets by forwards Brandon Parrish and Chris Washburn.
Washburn cut into a passing lane for a steal and a fast-break layup that gave TCU its largest lead to that point, 29-22 with 4:25 left in the half. Parrish broke the game open late in the first half with a three-point play in the lane and an open 3-pointer from the wing that gave the Frogs a 39-26 lead with 1:20 left in the half.
“For the first 15 minutes, we were very lethargic,” TCU coach Trent Johnson said. “But I thought with five minutes to go in the first half and for the remainder of the game we played with real good purpose.”
That purpose helped the Horned Frogs hold UTSA (4-5) to only five field goals in the second half. The Roadrunners shot just 25 percent from the field in the second half, while TCU hit on 60.8 percent and made 7 of 15 from beyond the 3-point arc for the game.
“We do a good job of sharing the basketball. It’s always about guys being ready to shoot,” Johnson said. “We were locked in there for the last 25 minutes, and you have to be.”
The Frogs spread the ball around and put four scorers in double figures. Parrish led the way with 18 points and five blocked shots, but the most notable score came from point guard Kyan Anderson, who hit a baseline 3-pointer with eight minutes remaining to put the Frogs up 73-45 and move the North Crowley graduate to 10th all-time in career scoring at TCU.
Anderson finished with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting and dished out nine assists to match a career high.
“I didn’t know, and [Anderson] didn’t say anything about it,” Johnson said of the scoring milestone. “I think he’s more conscious of being a better defender and continuing to win.
Kenrich Williams added 12 points and seven boards off the bench, and Trey Zeigler chipped in with 10 points.
UTSA guard Keon Lewis led all scorers with 23 points, hitting two of four 3-point attempts. The rest of the Roadrunners combined to shoot 1 of 14 from 3-point range.
“We’ve got a long way to go, but I am pleased in my own way, which is not saying a lot,” Johnson said of his team’s 11-0 start.
TCU outrebounded UTSA 40-18, creating 14 second-chance points and 21 points in transition.
Three Horned Frogs graduated before Saturday’s game: Zeigler, Amric Fields and Thomas Montigel.
This story was originally published December 20, 2014 at 11:02 PM with the headline "Undefeated TCU cruises past UTSA, climbs to 11-0."