by FORT WORTH, Texas – UC Irvine led by two, 58-56, until TCU drilled a three-pointer with four seconds to play as the Anteaters dropped a 59-58 decision, Thursday at Schollmaier Arena.
The Anteaters (3-3) led TCU (4-0) 58-53 with just under two minutes to play. The Horned Frogs’ RJ Nembhard hit a three-pointer to make it a two point game, 58-56 (1:36). Nembhard went for a layup but freshman Austin Johnson made a huge block with 12 seconds remaining. UCI missed three free throws before Nembhard hit the game-winning three.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Three Anteaters finished in double-digit scoring as Colling Welp lead the way with 14 points on 5-12 shooting from the floor
> Eyassu Worku had 12 points and a team-best five assists
> Brad Greene (Shoshone-Paiute) finished a double-double scoring 10 points and grabbing a career-best 12 boards
> Johnson had a career-high five blocks
> UCI shot 40.4 percent (21-52) from the floor and held TCU to just 35 percent (21-60) overall. The Anteaters went 2-8 (.25) from long range
> Nembhard finished with a game-high 20 points
> UCI out-rebounded TCU 44-28 and held a 30-16 advantage in points in the paint
First Half
> Two early three’s put TCU up 6-0 at 17:57 before jumpers from John Edgar Jr. and Welp followed by two made free throws from Austin Johnson tied the game, 6-6 (13:47)
> The Horned Frogs used a 9-0 run to take a 15-6 lead at 10:50
> UCI answered with a 9-2 run to make it a two-point game, 17-15, with 7:07 remaining. Welp had four points in the stretch
> Welp made a three to start a 7-0 run for the ‘Eaters that tied the game, 22-22, with 2:08 to play
> TCU would go on a 6-0 run in the final two minutes to take a 28-22 lead into the locker rooms
Second Half
> The game tied four times to open the second half before Edgar Jr. grabbed a steal followed by a huge dunk to put the ‘Eaters up 38-36 with 13:33 to play
> Jeron Artest hit a three-pointer to start a 6-2 run that put the ‘Eaters up 52-48 with 5:37 to play
> Greene made a jumper with 1:51 to play to give UCI a five-point, 58-53, lead
> Nembhard’s back-to-back three’s gave TCU the 59-58 victory
UP NEXT
> UCI travels to Las Vegas to play two games Nov. 24-26 as part of the MGM Main Event Tournament. The ‘Eaters play Detroit Mercy Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12 p.m.
NOTES
> UCI moves to 1-1 all-time against TCU
> The Anteaters snap a 25-game winning streak when holding an opponent to 60 games or less
> Johnson’s five blocks are the most by an Anteater since Elston Jones had six Feb. 2018
> Greene had his second double-double of the season
