The Horned Frogs are in action this Saturday as the team will travel to Nevada to play the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels.The team is coming off a 69-65 Wednesday win over Utah on Senior Night and is looking to win back-to-back games for the just the third time this season.
UNLV is currently 9-6 in conference play and 15-12 overall. The Runnin’ Rebels are averaging 71 points per game, which is fourth best in the conference. UNLV is also averaging 36 rebounds per game, which is second best behind only Wyoming.
The Horned Frogs (6-23, 2-13) are looking to avenge a loss earlier in the season to UNLV. In the first game, the Rebels were able to control the tempo of the game by beating the Horned Frogs in fast break points (15-9) and points off of turnovers (19-12). UNLV was led by the strong play of team scoring and rebounding leader Louis Admunson, who had 14 points to go along with 12 boards and 6 blocked shots.
Head coach Neil Dougherty said that TCU has to play aggressively on defense and not allow Admunson any open looks.
“We have got to keep Admunson from having a big game,” Dougherty said. “We must keep the intensity and not allow him to settle and get easy baskets.”
Admunson also had help from guard Curtis Terry who had 15 points, all from behind the arc.
Senior forward Nile Murry led the Frogs with 18 points; Murry did his best to help keep TCU in the game, scoring TCU’s first nine points of the second half,
“If we can get a win, that would be a huge momentum boost for us going into the tournament,” Murry said. “We have to take care of business, though, and focus on the UNLV game, even though the tournament is right around the corner.”
UNLV was able to keep control of the game because of its strong shooting and bench support. The Runnin’ Rebels shot an impressive 44 percent from the field and an even better 47 percent from downtown. UNLV’s bench managed to score 17 points, most of which came in the second half.
Junior guard Neil P. Dougherty also said the team needs to keep focused and worry about UNLV – not think ahead to the tournament.
“We really have to make sure we stay focused,” he said. “It will be Senior Night for UNLV so we have to make sure that we match their intensity and execute in our transition game.”
Neil Dougherty feels that the Frogs will be ready to go against UNLV this time, especially after their victory over Utah.
“We know that we have to keep UNLV from going on their scoring runs and creating turnovers, which they have been able to do all season,” he said. “We have the tournament in the back of our minds, but want to remain focused, play hard, and end the season with a win streak going into the tournament.
