LAS VEGAS, Nev.8212;TCU stretched its losing streak to four games after a 83-49 road loss to No. 25 UNLV on Saturday at the Rebels’ Thomas & Mack Center.
The loss dropped TCU’s season record to 9-8 overall and 0-2 in Mountain West Conference play. UNLV improved to 13-3 overall and 1-1 in the MWC.
UNLV forced TCU into a season-high 23 turnovers. The miscues resulted in a 32-6 Rebel advantage in points off turnovers.
Compounding TCU’s problems was another tough shooting night on the road. The Frogs made only 16-of-51 field-goal attempts (31.4 percent), the third time in the last four road games that the squad has failed to reach 40.0 percent. UNLV shot 50.8 percent from the floor, including 54.5 percent in a first-half that saw the squad build a 21-point lead by intermission.
Sophomore forward Garlon Green led TCU in scoring for the second straight game and fourth time overall this season with 11 points. He matched a career best by sinking three 3-pointers, the third straight game and fifth time in the last seven outings he has made of trio of shots from long-range. Green also tied for the team lead with six rebounds.
Junior guard Hank Thorns, playing in front of his Las Vegas home crowd, totaled nine points and a team-high five assists, while senior forward Nikola Gacesa scored eight points to go with six boards.
Five Rebels scored in double figures, including All-MWC guard Tre’Von Willis, who totaled game-high figures of 22 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Chace Stanback scored 15 points, while Justin Hawkins (13), Marshall Anthony (11) and Carlos Lopez (10) also hit double digits.
TCU started the game on the right foot, taking a four-point lead in the game’s opening six minutes, but things quickly turned south after the Rebels ratcheted up the defensive pressure. The squad forced several Frog turnovers before attacking the basket on the other end of the court on its way to a 24-0 run.
Willis led UNLV with seven points during the stretch to help give his squad a 32-12 edge with 7:57 remaining in the half. Overall, TCU was held without a field goal for more than eight minutes until a Gacesa 3-pointer at the 5:25 mark. UNLV’s lead grew to 25 points, 43-18, on a dunk by Jasper with 4:24 left in the period.
The second half proved to be much of the same for the Frogs. After cutting the lead down to 17 points, 57-40, on a Gacesa free throw at the 13:33 mark, UNLV rattled off an 11-0 run to all but seal the decision. TCU was held without a field goal for a stretch of nearly 12 minutes in the half before a Thorns mid-range jumper from the baseline with 2:32 remaining.
TCU looks to regroup on Wednesday when it takes on Wyoming at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. The matchup will be televised live by the MountainWest Sports Network (The Mtn.).
Notes
Attendance: 12,155
– TCU fell to 9-8 overall and 0-2 in the Mountain West Conference with its fourth straight loss.
– Garlon Green led TCU in scoring for the fourth time this season with 11 points. He tied Ronnie Moss for the team lead in double-figure scoring performances with his 13th such effort.
– Green matched a career high with three 3-pointers, marking the fifth time in the last seven games that he has hit as many shots from long range.
– TCU’s 23 turnovers marked a season high, topping the previous high of 20 set in the Dec. 21 home win over Northwestern State.