The TCU men’s basketball team (8-3) looks to extend their four-game winning streak with a win over the Texas Southern Tigers (4-7) on Sunday afternoon.
The Frogs, who started the season 0-2, have won eight of their last nine games.
“We’re finding ways to win games and we’re getting contributions from everybody,” TCU head coach Trent Johnson said. “And that speaks volumes to be a good team. We just need to be consistent.”
Injuries have certainly plagued the Frogs this season but the team is making no excuses. They are undefeated (4-0) since junior forward Amric Fields went down with a hand injury against Harvard.
Fields, who missed most of last season with an ACL injury, is expected to return to practice after Christmas break, according to Johnson.
Junior guard Kyan Anderson, in particular, has stepped up as of late, scoring 20 or more points in the last two games. The Fort Worth native is averaging 16.1 points per game this season.
The Tigers are led by senior center Aaric Murray. Last week, the 6’10” big man scored a career-high 48 points in a last-second 90-89 win over Temple.
“This is by far the best offensive performance that I’ve ever witnessed as a coach,” Texas Southern head coach Mike Davis said after the game.
Murray, who played for West Virginia last year, has averaged 24.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game this season.
“On the court, you know his talents,” Davis said. “Forty-eight points is an unbelievable feat for some people. But not for Aaric.”
Murray has also played in Fort Worth once before. Last season, while coming off the bench, Murray scored seven points in 13 minutes as the Mountaineers beat the Frogs 63-50.
Freshman center Karviar Shepherd is expected to carry the tall task of guarding Murray on Sunday. The highest rated prospect to ever sign with TCU has 23 blocks this season.
Shepherd is also currently second in the Big 12 in defensive rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.
Tip-off for Sunday’s matchup with Texas Southern is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The game is expected to be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.
