TCU’s Saturday conference game against Air Force at 5:00 p.m. at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum will be more than just an opportunity for TCU to snap its four-game losing streak.

TCU will retire James Cash Jr.’s No. 54 jersey at halftime. Cash was the first African-American to play in the Southwest Conference from 1967-69 and also became the first full-time African-American professor at the Harvard Business School.

Cash also led TCU to a SWC championship in the 1967-68 season and is in the top-five all-time for TCU career points and rebounds.

“The (players) are well aware of his significance to this university,” Head basketball coach Jim Christian said. “They’re well aware of the night and what the cause of the night is. He came in early to talk to our team, which shows you a lot about him. It’s an exciting time.”

TCU (10-12, 1-6 MWC) dropped its last game to New Mexico 71-46 at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M. The Frogs played without junior guard and leading scorer Ronnie Moss, who missed the game for personal reasons.

While junior guard Hank Thorns scored a team-high 11 points and game-high nine assists, the Frogs shot 33.9 percent from the field compared to the Lobos’ 48.2 percent.

“I feel great. We’ll be prepared for Air Force (when we get home),” Thorns said, before the team left for Albuquerque.

Sophomore forward Garlon Green also scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in the Frogs’ loss, but a 9-0 run in the second half of the game extended New Mexico’s lead to 20.

Air Force (11-8, 2-4 MWC) will enter Saturday’s game after a 69-66 loss to Colorado State. Falcons’ sophomore guard Michael Lyons scored 14 points in the loss and junior guard/forward Taylor Stewart scored 11 points.

Air Force has dropped four of five, with its lone win in the five-game span coming at home against Wyoming.

The Falcons are 1-6 on the road this season, while the Frogs have dropped two of their last three at home.

“Right now when you go through tough stretches, it’s hard to feel good about yourself because everything you try to do gets beaten down,” Christian said. “You gotta rise above that. So that’s what we’re hoping to get 8212; when we leave the court after that game, that we’ve played the right way. We’ve played hard; we’ve gotten better. That’s what you have to do at this point.”

The game will be televised on CBS College Sports and broadcast on 88.7 FM (KTCU) and 820 AM (WBAP).

Men’s Basketball

TCU vs. Air Force Academy

When: Saturday, Jan. 29, at 5:00 p.m.

Where: Daniel-Meyer Coliseum

Note: James Cash Jr.’s jersey will be retired at halftime

TV: CBS College Sports

Radio: 88.7 FM (KTCU) and 820 AM (WBAP)

GoFrogs.com: Follow GameTracker or listen live