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TCU Falls in Big 12 Opener
Devonta Abron scores 16 points in 62-53 loss to Texas Tech.
Jan. 5, 2013
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FORT WORTH--TCU staged a late comeback attempt but fell short Saturday, dropping a 62-53 decision to Texas Tech in its inaugural Big 12 game at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
The setback, which snapped the Horned Frogs' season-high three-game winning streak, dropped the team's record to 9-5 overall. Texas Tech improved to 8-4 overall.
TCU trailed the Red Raiders by 16 points with just over five minutes remaining before rallying. The Frogs scored 12 of the game's next 13 points to climb to within five inside the final minute, but the squad was unable to get any closer. Tech closed the game out at the free-throw line, going 2-for-2 on successive trips inside the final 35 seconds to hold off the Frogs.
Sophomore forward Devonta Abron led TCU with a game-high 16 points, while he added seven rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots. Abron paired with senior teammate Adrick McKinney to give the Frogs a physical presence inside against the Red Raiders. TCU posted a 35-30 rebounding edge, its second-largest of the season, while pulling down a season-best 17 offensive boards.
McKinney added eight points and seven rebounds. Fellow senior forward Connell Crossland also went to work on the glass, grabbing a game-high nine boards to go along with eight points. Senior guard Garlon Green totaled nine points.
Three players in double figures led a balanced Texas Tech offensive attack. Forward Jaye Crockett posted a team-high 13 points, while guard Dusty Hannahs and forward Jordan Tolbert added 12 and 11 each. Hannahs hit 4-of-5 attempts from 3-point range to lead Tech to a 6-of-10 team effort from beyond the arc.
TCU found it tough going on offense all evening against an athletic Red Raider lineup, finishing the contest shooting only 35.2 percent from the floor compared to 47.9 percent for Tech. The Frogs went only 1-of-7 from 3, with the lone bucket coming from Green. Tech was able to hold TCU's top two scorers on the season, sophomore guard Kyan Anderson and Green, to only 3-of-22 shooting from the floor overall.
Tech took control of the contest midway through the second half, rattling off a 12-2 run to grab an 11-point advantage, 21-10. Guard Ty Nurse scored his only five points of the game during the stretch, while Crockett finished the spurt off with a slam at the 9:07 mark.
The Frogs closed the gap back to within four points with the help of an 11-3 run of its own late in the period. Abron totaled a pair of layups, while McKinney added a short jumper with 2:26 remaining to cut the edge to 26-22. Tech closed out the half with a big 3 from Hannahs just before the buzzer to move back up by seven points, 29-22.
The key stretch of the game proved to be an eight-minute run midway through the second half that saw Tech outscore TCU by a 20-8 margin and move on top by 16, 57-41. A pair of 3-pointers bookended the run, the first by guard Trency Jackson and the last dagger by Hannahs with 5:18 remaining. TCU's late rally followed, but the Red Raiders' large lead proved to be too much to overcome in the end.
TCU leaves Fort Worth for its first Big 12 road game Wednesday when the squad travels to Stillwater, Okla., for a 7 p.m. matchup with Oklahoma State. The Big 12 Network will televise the contest live from the Cowboys' Gallagher-Iba Arena.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas Tech 62, TCU 53
Fort Worth, Texas (Daniel-Meyer Coliseum)
Jan. 5, 2012
Attendance: 5,448
TCU HEAD COACH Trent Johnson
Opening statement:
"Going into this game after watching some tape, quickness was a big concern to me. Obviously, (Texas Tech is) a much different team from last year, and they have six guys now who can create or take their own shot. We couldn't guard them. For the most part, they did an excellent job on Kyan (Anderson). When you watch us, you know you have to be physical with him and put as much pressure on him as possible, and that means other guys have to make shots and make plays. As I told our players in the locker room, (this season) is an 18-round heavyweight fight, and in Round 1 we got staggered a little bit. The key is on shots and turnovers, many of which were unforced. In this kind of league, you can't do it."
On how Tech's defense put pressure on TCU:
"The only thing they did defensively, which other teams didn't have, is that they had the personnel to get Kyan (Anderson) like they did. They chose to make our post beat them. Devonta (Abron) for one did a good job at being aggressive and Adrick (McKinney) did a good job. If you look at non-conference games, Kyan was the key, and teams have to get him out of rhythm to get the rest of the team out of rhythm. Again, you can't fault our effort, but our margin of error is real slim. We can't have bad starts to games, and we had one tonight."
On his team's physicality:
"We were physical. It speaks to that in rebounding, where we won 35-30. You see when there's a breakdown defensively and they get a dunk. We outrebounded some inferior opponents, but unlike this team, they can handle it. We were physical, but we didn't execute, especially with open shots. We were down six, I believe, and they come up wide open on a 3 and hit a 15-footer."
On Tech forward Jaye Crockett:
"He's hard to guard, and I love guys like that because he doesn't care. He's what's good about college basketball, because he's about energy. He doesn't care about rebounding or shots and I wish I had more kids like him across the board. Obviously, we don't have a kid like that who's quick to the ball and quick to his feet and strong. He's the glue to that group in my opinion."
On TCU's adjustment to playing its first conference game:
"We had shots, and if they we are going to change defenses, they were going to make it tough for Kyan to get the ball. We would have to get it to Nate (Butler Lind) . That was the first time we had been in that situation, and it's a matter of executing against bigger teams. There were two guys they wanted to make it tough on: Kyan and Garlon (Green)."
TCU SOPHOMORE FORWARD Devonta Abron
On playing when team was struggling:
"We told each other that we had to keep our heads up no matter what and keep fighting. We know we had to lock down everybody and had to keep playing defense. Our coaches told us that we have to keep our heads up and play through the toughness."
On the play of TCU's offense:
"We were getting good looks. We were just trying to rush through our offense, because we felt like we needed to hurry up and score and get back on defense. We kept going with what we felt would work. We were shooting ourselves in the foot. We were playing great defense and forcing them to make tough shots."
On playing with Adrick McKinney:
"I felt like playing with Adrick gave me a big boost. Starting is not my option. I just do what I have to do when I get on the court."
On play of Texas Tech:
"We knew what we were getting into when the Big 12 schedule started. Coach (Johnson) has been telling us since day one we have to be ready for when the conference started. We knew what we had to look forward to."
TEXAS TECH HEAD COACH CHRIS WALKER
On play of team as a group in win:
"I am very proud of the way the guys came together from the start of the trip. We came a day early because we had not had a road trip this year. There was maximum focus at dinner last night and shootaround today. It was much better than we have had all year. The reason that we wear black every day at practice is because practice is about being in the most difficult situations. When you are in the most difficult situation the habits you have from practice will carry into the game. We got a win against a very well-coached team."

On how team played for all 40 minutes:
"I would have to say it was our best game because it was on the road. They fought us and we executed, which I was proud of. I was not particularly crazy about our rebounding and I felt we could have limited some second shots. We tried to force them have their big guys make plays. It was not always pretty, but we did a good job keeping it out of (Garlon) Green's hands and to limit Kyan Anderson. That was the game plan. We had to live with whatever those big guys did. It was not a perfect game, but we followed our game plan. TCU played really hard. They are a tough team and coach Johnson does a great job."
On the youth of Texas Tech:
"We had eight players who had never played in a Big 12 game, and that has to be a concern. It is our habits. We slowed the pace down a little bit we don't press as much. I have to cater to a younger team, so I can't do all the things I want to do. I tell our guys before we go out every single time that even if they make shots and make free throws and they do things that they don't do in the scouting report we must do two things. We must play harder and more together than TCU. I think we played harder than them tonight, and, for us, we played more together."
On team's awareness of game plan:
"It has been a work in progress. Earlier in the schedule we could just run up and down on teams and score easily. It is the evolution of the team. To be honest with you, standing around is not that bad sometimes. It is a matter of what is going on, and how we want to score. Sometimes standing around is good for us because we turn the ball over too much. That is what we have to learn, to have a high volume when things go wrong. Those same guys made some big plays. Josh Gray made some big played and Dusty (Hannahs) made four 3-pointers. For two freshmen to come in and make key plays, how can I not be proud of that?"
On the play of Jaye Crockett:
"He is an energy guy. He has been our heartbeat all year. He is playing great and with a swagger and a toughness. He is one of our most experienced guys on the team. He is doing a great job. I cannot be any happier with Jaye Crockett and what he is contributing to the team."
TEXAS TECH SOPHOMORE FORWARD JORDAN TOLBERT
On getting their first Big 12 win:
"It definitely feels good. It is something that you can build on. Everybody came out and played their roles and we executed everything in the game plan."
On the win compared to other wins:
"It is way better. We fought hard for it and it was a close win. I am glad with the way we all played together."
On playing in his hometown of Fort Worth:
"It always feels good to play in Fort Worth. I love playing here."
TEXAS TECH SOPHOMORE GUARD TRENCY JACKSON
On team chemistry:
"It felt really good. I was always stressing that the best teams everyone played their roles to the best of their ability. I think we did tonight. Everyone played their roles. It feels good. We stuck to the scouting report and played defense. We executed on the offensive end, which the coaches have been stressing. We executed tonight and we have to keep going."
On what coach Chris Walker told the team:
"It was a great win, and it feels good to win on the road. We have to keep going and prepare for Baylor on Tuesday."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
POSTGAME NOTES
Texas Tech 62, TCU 53
Fort Worth, Texas (Daniel-Meyer Coliseum)
Jan. 5, 2012
Attendance: 5,448
* TCU fell to 9-5 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 Conference play. The squad saw its season-high three-game winning streak snapped.
* TCU fell to 42-49 all-time in conference season openers. The squad has dropped its last three openers.
* TCU was outshot from the floor for only the fourth time this season. The squad is now 0-4 in such contests.
* TCU fell to 5-2 when outrebounding the opponent. The Frogs' 17 offensive rebounds marked a season high.
* TCU utilized its sixth different starting lineup this season with Kyan Anderson, Nate Butler Lind, Garlon Green, Adrick McKinney and Devonta Abron. Saturday marked the first game that McKinney and Abron started together.
* TCU matched its team season high of seven blocked shots set previously vs. Centenary (Nov. 12).
* Devonta Abron led TCU in scoring for the third time this season with 16 points. The effort marked Abron's fifth double-digit output of the season.
* Abron also collected a career-high four blocked shots, surpassing his previous best of two. It marked the most blocks by a Frog since Alvardo Parker amassed five vs. Colorado State on Jan. 17, 2007.
* Garlon Green scored nine points and now needs only 10 more to become the 31st player in TCU history with 1,000 points and the 20th Frog with 1,000 points and 400 rebounds.
* Kyan Anderson's streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer came to an end at seven straight games. Green now leads the team with a streak of five straight games with at least one trey.
TCU Falls in Big 12 Opener
Devonta Abron scores 16 points in 62-53 loss to Texas Tech.
Jan. 5, 2013
Stats (.html) | Stats (.pdf)
| Quotes | Notes | Photos
FORT WORTH--TCU staged a late comeback attempt but fell short Saturday, dropping a 62-53 decision to Texas Tech in its inaugural Big 12 game at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
The setback, which snapped the Horned Frogs' season-high three-game winning streak, dropped the team's record to 9-5 overall. Texas Tech improved to 8-4 overall.
TCU trailed the Red Raiders by 16 points with just over five minutes remaining before rallying. The Frogs scored 12 of the game's next 13 points to climb to within five inside the final minute, but the squad was unable to get any closer. Tech closed the game out at the free-throw line, going 2-for-2 on successive trips inside the final 35 seconds to hold off the Frogs.
Sophomore forward Devonta Abron led TCU with a game-high 16 points, while he added seven rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots. Abron paired with senior teammate Adrick McKinney to give the Frogs a physical presence inside against the Red Raiders. TCU posted a 35-30 rebounding edge, its second-largest of the season, while pulling down a season-best 17 offensive boards.
McKinney added eight points and seven rebounds. Fellow senior forward Connell Crossland also went to work on the glass, grabbing a game-high nine boards to go along with eight points. Senior guard Garlon Green totaled nine points.
Three players in double figures led a balanced Texas Tech offensive attack. Forward Jaye Crockett posted a team-high 13 points, while guard Dusty Hannahs and forward Jordan Tolbert added 12 and 11 each. Hannahs hit 4-of-5 attempts from 3-point range to lead Tech to a 6-of-10 team effort from beyond the arc.
TCU found it tough going on offense all evening against an athletic Red Raider lineup, finishing the contest shooting only 35.2 percent from the floor compared to 47.9 percent for Tech. The Frogs went only 1-of-7 from 3, with the lone bucket coming from Green. Tech was able to hold TCU's top two scorers on the season, sophomore guard Kyan Anderson and Green, to only 3-of-22 shooting from the floor overall.
Tech took control of the contest midway through the second half, rattling off a 12-2 run to grab an 11-point advantage, 21-10. Guard Ty Nurse scored his only five points of the game during the stretch, while Crockett finished the spurt off with a slam at the 9:07 mark.
The Frogs closed the gap back to within four points with the help of an 11-3 run of its own late in the period. Abron totaled a pair of layups, while McKinney added a short jumper with 2:26 remaining to cut the edge to 26-22. Tech closed out the half with a big 3 from Hannahs just before the buzzer to move back up by seven points, 29-22.
The key stretch of the game proved to be an eight-minute run midway through the second half that saw Tech outscore TCU by a 20-8 margin and move on top by 16, 57-41. A pair of 3-pointers bookended the run, the first by guard Trency Jackson and the last dagger by Hannahs with 5:18 remaining. TCU's late rally followed, but the Red Raiders' large lead proved to be too much to overcome in the end.
TCU leaves Fort Worth for its first Big 12 road game Wednesday when the squad travels to Stillwater, Okla., for a 7 p.m. matchup with Oklahoma State. The Big 12 Network will televise the contest live from the Cowboys' Gallagher-Iba Arena.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas Tech 62, TCU 53
Fort Worth, Texas (Daniel-Meyer Coliseum)
Jan. 5, 2012
Attendance: 5,448
TCU HEAD COACH Trent Johnson
Opening statement:
"Going into this game after watching some tape, quickness was a big concern to me. Obviously, (Texas Tech is) a much different team from last year, and they have six guys now who can create or take their own shot. We couldn't guard them. For the most part, they did an excellent job on Kyan (Anderson). When you watch us, you know you have to be physical with him and put as much pressure on him as possible, and that means other guys have to make shots and make plays. As I told our players in the locker room, (this season) is an 18-round heavyweight fight, and in Round 1 we got staggered a little bit. The key is on shots and turnovers, many of which were unforced. In this kind of league, you can't do it."
On how Tech's defense put pressure on TCU:
"The only thing they did defensively, which other teams didn't have, is that they had the personnel to get Kyan (Anderson) like they did. They chose to make our post beat them. Devonta (Abron) for one did a good job at being aggressive and Adrick (McKinney) did a good job. If you look at non-conference games, Kyan was the key, and teams have to get him out of rhythm to get the rest of the team out of rhythm. Again, you can't fault our effort, but our margin of error is real slim. We can't have bad starts to games, and we had one tonight."
On his team's physicality:
"We were physical. It speaks to that in rebounding, where we won 35-30. You see when there's a breakdown defensively and they get a dunk. We outrebounded some inferior opponents, but unlike this team, they can handle it. We were physical, but we didn't execute, especially with open shots. We were down six, I believe, and they come up wide open on a 3 and hit a 15-footer."
On Tech forward Jaye Crockett:
"He's hard to guard, and I love guys like that because he doesn't care. He's what's good about college basketball, because he's about energy. He doesn't care about rebounding or shots and I wish I had more kids like him across the board. Obviously, we don't have a kid like that who's quick to the ball and quick to his feet and strong. He's the glue to that group in my opinion."
On TCU's adjustment to playing its first conference game:
"We had shots, and if they we are going to change defenses, they were going to make it tough for Kyan to get the ball. We would have to get it to Nate (Butler Lind) . That was the first time we had been in that situation, and it's a matter of executing against bigger teams. There were two guys they wanted to make it tough on: Kyan and Garlon (Green)."
TCU SOPHOMORE FORWARD Devonta Abron
On playing when team was struggling:
"We told each other that we had to keep our heads up no matter what and keep fighting. We know we had to lock down everybody and had to keep playing defense. Our coaches told us that we have to keep our heads up and play through the toughness."
On the play of TCU's offense:
"We were getting good looks. We were just trying to rush through our offense, because we felt like we needed to hurry up and score and get back on defense. We kept going with what we felt would work. We were shooting ourselves in the foot. We were playing great defense and forcing them to make tough shots."
On playing with Adrick McKinney:
"I felt like playing with Adrick gave me a big boost. Starting is not my option. I just do what I have to do when I get on the court."
On play of Texas Tech:
"We knew what we were getting into when the Big 12 schedule started. Coach (Johnson) has been telling us since day one we have to be ready for when the conference started. We knew what we had to look forward to."
TEXAS TECH HEAD COACH CHRIS WALKER
On play of team as a group in win:
"I am very proud of the way the guys came together from the start of the trip. We came a day early because we had not had a road trip this year. There was maximum focus at dinner last night and shootaround today. It was much better than we have had all year. The reason that we wear black every day at practice is because practice is about being in the most difficult situations. When you are in the most difficult situation the habits you have from practice will carry into the game. We got a win against a very well-coached team."

On how team played for all 40 minutes:
"I would have to say it was our best game because it was on the road. They fought us and we executed, which I was proud of. I was not particularly crazy about our rebounding and I felt we could have limited some second shots. We tried to force them have their big guys make plays. It was not always pretty, but we did a good job keeping it out of (Garlon) Green's hands and to limit Kyan Anderson. That was the game plan. We had to live with whatever those big guys did. It was not a perfect game, but we followed our game plan. TCU played really hard. They are a tough team and coach Johnson does a great job."
On the youth of Texas Tech:
"We had eight players who had never played in a Big 12 game, and that has to be a concern. It is our habits. We slowed the pace down a little bit we don't press as much. I have to cater to a younger team, so I can't do all the things I want to do. I tell our guys before we go out every single time that even if they make shots and make free throws and they do things that they don't do in the scouting report we must do two things. We must play harder and more together than TCU. I think we played harder than them tonight, and, for us, we played more together."
On team's awareness of game plan:
"It has been a work in progress. Earlier in the schedule we could just run up and down on teams and score easily. It is the evolution of the team. To be honest with you, standing around is not that bad sometimes. It is a matter of what is going on, and how we want to score. Sometimes standing around is good for us because we turn the ball over too much. That is what we have to learn, to have a high volume when things go wrong. Those same guys made some big plays. Josh Gray made some big played and Dusty (Hannahs) made four 3-pointers. For two freshmen to come in and make key plays, how can I not be proud of that?"
On the play of Jaye Crockett:
"He is an energy guy. He has been our heartbeat all year. He is playing great and with a swagger and a toughness. He is one of our most experienced guys on the team. He is doing a great job. I cannot be any happier with Jaye Crockett and what he is contributing to the team."
TEXAS TECH SOPHOMORE FORWARD JORDAN TOLBERT
On getting their first Big 12 win:
"It definitely feels good. It is something that you can build on. Everybody came out and played their roles and we executed everything in the game plan."
On the win compared to other wins:
"It is way better. We fought hard for it and it was a close win. I am glad with the way we all played together."
On playing in his hometown of Fort Worth:
"It always feels good to play in Fort Worth. I love playing here."
TEXAS TECH SOPHOMORE GUARD TRENCY JACKSON
On team chemistry:
"It felt really good. I was always stressing that the best teams everyone played their roles to the best of their ability. I think we did tonight. Everyone played their roles. It feels good. We stuck to the scouting report and played defense. We executed on the offensive end, which the coaches have been stressing. We executed tonight and we have to keep going."
On what coach Chris Walker told the team:
"It was a great win, and it feels good to win on the road. We have to keep going and prepare for Baylor on Tuesday."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
POSTGAME NOTES
Texas Tech 62, TCU 53
Fort Worth, Texas (Daniel-Meyer Coliseum)
Jan. 5, 2012
Attendance: 5,448
* TCU fell to 9-5 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 Conference play. The squad saw its season-high three-game winning streak snapped.
* TCU fell to 42-49 all-time in conference season openers. The squad has dropped its last three openers.
* TCU was outshot from the floor for only the fourth time this season. The squad is now 0-4 in such contests.
* TCU fell to 5-2 when outrebounding the opponent. The Frogs' 17 offensive rebounds marked a season high.
* TCU utilized its sixth different starting lineup this season with Kyan Anderson, Nate Butler Lind, Garlon Green, Adrick McKinney and Devonta Abron. Saturday marked the first game that McKinney and Abron started together.
* TCU matched its team season high of seven blocked shots set previously vs. Centenary (Nov. 12).
* Devonta Abron led TCU in scoring for the third time this season with 16 points. The effort marked Abron's fifth double-digit output of the season.
* Abron also collected a career-high four blocked shots, surpassing his previous best of two. It marked the most blocks by a Frog since Alvardo Parker amassed five vs. Colorado State on Jan. 17, 2007.
* Garlon Green scored nine points and now needs only 10 more to become the 31st player in TCU history with 1,000 points and the 20th Frog with 1,000 points and 400 rebounds.
* Kyan Anderson's streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer came to an end at seven straight games. Green now leads the team with a streak of five straight games with at least one trey.
