TCU Drops Heartbreaker at Texas Tech
Box Score |  USATSI Gallery 
LUBBOCK, Texas – In a game that featured nine ties and 16 lead changes, TCU pushed Texas Tech to the brink Tuesday night, but came up short in the end, falling inside United Supermarkets Arena, 83-79.
Game Recap
On a night where the Horned Frogs shot 47.5 percent, including a blistering 55.6 percent in the first half, TCU appeared poised to win for a second-straight time in Lubbock, but just missed on some key chances despite clicking on all cylinders prior to halftime. The Frogs opened the game, shooting a red hot 63.6 percent from deep and led by as many as 14 late in the first half.
Chauncey Collins carried the load, scoring a career-high 29 points on 8-of-15 from the field. The sophomore was simply unstoppable during stages of the game and scored the last six of the night for the Purple and White. Junior Brandon Parrishwas just as impressive, dropping a season-high 19 points, which included a 4-for-6 showing from behind the arc. Malique Trent and JD Miller rounded out the Horned Frog notables, scoring 15 and 10 points apiece, respectively.
With the loss, TCU moved to 11-17 overall and 2-13 in Big 12 action. Texas Tech improved to 18-9 overall and 8-7 in league play.
Parrish continued his hot shooting during the opening stages of the second half, knocking down a jumper to push the Frogs advantage to 49-37, but Tech responded by going on a 16-3 run. Miller would put an end to the run, scoring six-straight to give TCU a 58-57 lead midway through.
With the score knotted at 58-58, the Frogs went to work as Miller diced through the Tech defense and found Parrish down low for the put-back and the two-point lead with 9:35 on the clock. The Red Raiders would go on a mini run to take a 66-60 advantage, but Collins would have nothing of it, scoring on two-consecutive trips to pull the Frogs within 66-64 with 6:15 left.
With the score 75-70 in slight favor of Texas Tech, Trent nailed a three ball to make it a 75-73 ballgame. A few plays later, Collins just wouldn’t be denied, scoring a deep three with a hand in his face to pull TCU within 80-78 with a minute left in the contest. The Frogs couldn’t make up enough ground the rest of the way as Tech sealed the game with some key free throws down the stretch.
The two teams opened the contest going back and forth as both came out of the gates hot from deep. During the early stages of the contest, Parrish and Collins both tickled the twine from deep to make the scoreboard read 8-6 in favor of the Purple and White at the 16:37 mark.
The Frogs would continue on the attack a few plays later as both Collins and Trent would score to make it a 15-15 ballgame at the 13:12 mark of the opening frame. Parrish then continued his hot start from deep with 12:38 on the clock, scoring his second triple of the contest to give TCU an 18-17 lead.
The Purple and White increased their lead to eight at 31-23 following three-straight three’s, including back-to-back triples from Parrish with a little over 6 minutes remaining in the half. Tech was able to cut it to 33-29 down the stretch, but TCU would not be denied pushing its advantage to 41-29 within a blink of an eye.
The Horned Frogs would take a 47-35 lead into intermission.
Quote of the Game
Trent Johnson
“For the most part, we played really, really well. Really well. Texas Tech’s a really good basketball team. They have a lot of confidence in close games. We had a couple bad possessions down the stretch. But I can’t fault our effort. I can’t fault our execution.”
Game Notes
• TCU moved to 11-17 overall and 2-13 in Big 12 play.
• TCU and Texas Tech played for the 127th time in program history Tuesday.
• TCU moved to 41-9 when leading at the half under Trent Johnson.
• Michael Williams made his 15th start this season Tuesday.
• Williams made his 17th start overall of his career Tuesday.
• Chauncey Collins scored a career-high 29 points Tuesday.
• Collins had career-highs in field goals made and attempted.
• Collins also had a career-high in free throws made with 10 on the night.
• Collins played a career-high 39 minutes in the loss.
• Brandon Parrish had a season-high 19 points.
• Parrish played a career-high 40 minutes Tuesday.
• Parrish tied a career-high in field goals made with seven.
• Malique Trent scored in double-figures for a third-straight contest.
• JD Miller started for a second-straight game Tuesday night.
• Miller scored in double-figures for a second-straight outing.