March 13, 2012

Box Score

FORT WORTH, Tex. - Craig Williams and Amric Fields had 15 points apiece to lead six players in double figures as TCU claimed an 83-73 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tuesday night in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational.

The Horned Frogs (18-14) shot 50 percent from the field in holding off numerous surges by the Panthers (20-14).

Tony Meier had 18 points to lead Milwaukee, which also got 17 points from James Haarsma and 14 points plus 10 assists from Kaylon Williams. The Panthers played from behind the entire night and were still within four at the three minute mark but could never claim the lead.

The difference in the game came at the three-point arc and the foul line. TCU made 10-of-21 from distance while UWM made just 8-of-30. Plus, the Horned Frogs outscored the Panthers 19-1 at the free throw line.

In the end, TCU wound up shooting 50 percent from the field, including a 14-of-24 effort in the second half, in making key plays to advance to the second round of the tournament

"It's not just one play, it's a series of things," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "We missed some shots, we didn't defend the three very well and (we had) just too many turnovers. When you are playing from behind, you can't miss on opportunities. We couldn't get over the hump."

The Panthers were also hurt down the stretch by the absence of Haarsma, who fouled out with 4:40 left.

"He was playing well, really mixing it up inside, and not having him on the floor down the stretch was a blow to us," Jeter said.

The Panthers trailed by as many as nine points in the first 20 minutes while making just 3-of-16 from three-point range. A three-pointer by Kyan Anderson made it 19-11 with 11 minutes remaining but Milwaukee countered with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 21-apiece with just over eight minutes left.

The Horned Frogs struck back, though, with a 9-0 run to go up 30-21 with 5:40 left. An inside hoop by Meier brought UWM within 32-29, but TCU scored six of the final seven points of the half to lead 38-30 at the break.

Milwaukee found itself down nine early in the second half but railed to tie the game at 44-apiece on a free throw from Williams with 16:05 remaining. TCU then took the lead for good on a Butler three 45 seconds later but could never really shake UWM. A pair of free throws by Thorns made it 57-48 before Meier knocked down a three to bring the Panthers within 60-56. A three-pointer from Fields pushed TCU back up 67-59, but again Milwaukee struck back as a hoop by Ryan Haggerty brought the Panthers within 67-64.

One more time TCU pushed its lead out, with a free throw from Cadot making it 74-64 with 4:08 left. Then, Milwaukee scored seven of the next eight points, capped by a three from Meier, bringing UWM within 75-71 with 3:11 left. It was still 78-73 when Meier converted on a layin with 2:18. But TCU scored the final five points of the game, aided by a controversial intentional foul call, to close out the game.