TCU downs Arkansas basketball with late 3 in Fort Price

FORT WORTH, Texas — Brendan Wenzel hit a three-pointer with 18.8 seconds remaining to offer TCU its first lead for the reason that first quarter and a 66-65 victory over the No. 16 Arkansas males’s basketball staff Friday at Dickies Area. 

Arkansas led by as many as 13 factors within the third quarter earlier than the Horned Frogs ended the interval on an 8-0 run and carried momentum into the fourth. Vasean Allette hit a three-pointer to chop it to a 56-54 deficit early within the fourth quarter, which pressured Arkansas coach John Calipari right into a timeout.

Arkansas missed 8 of its last 9 area purpose makes an attempt and was scoreless for the ultimate 3:28.

“Nicely to start with, give TCU credit score. They fought like loopy,” Caliapri mentioned. “We took powerful photographs they usually have been making an attempt to get fouled and get to the rim….We didn’t get the form of photographs you must get to win a sport. The ball didn’t go to the place it wanted it to go.”

Ernest Udeh, TCU’s lone scholarship returner from its NCAA Event staff final season, was a key a part of its comeback effort. 

Udeh, who joined the Horned Frogs from Kansas forward of final season, was briefly injured however returned to be an inside pressure. He, Allette and Frankie Collins have been instrumental in holding TCU within the sport. 

“He was bodily, a giant presence, ensuring to tag on decide and rolls,” Calipari mentioned. “We did not do a great job of that and also you guys noticed that on the market at this time. He was catching all of the lobs and every part. So we have got return into observe, work on that.”

Udeh had a block on D.J. Wagner on the rim to maintain it as a one-score sport at 65-63 earlier than the Horned Frogs took the lead on Wenzel’s shot.

“I noticed an open internet,” Wenzel mentioned. “I wasn’t taking pictures it nice at this time, however I’m not going to cease taking pictures and I do know my coaches and my teammates are all telling me to maintain taking pictures. In order that’s what I’m going to do.” 

PHOTO GALLERY: Arkansas-TCU basketball exhibition

Adou Thiero scored a game-high 20 factors and had 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks whereas disrupting different photographs for the Razorbacks. He confirmed some vary in his taking pictures with a protracted midrange jumper that preceded a three-pointer within the first half.

Thiero fought by means of contact and earned three baskets with the foul when driving to the rim. He had 18 factors heading into the fourth quarter.

“I feel they bought some massive rebounds, made some photographs going into the fourth quarter,” Thiero mentioned. “We knew they have been going to go on a run sooner or later, however we did not do a great job of stopping it or sustaining it.”

No different Razorback had greater than Johnell Davis’ 8 factors getting into the ultimate quarter. 

“We did some issues for him to get him to the place he can assault extra,” Calipari mentioned. “The one factor that I mentioned, ‘Simply go by the man. Stop making an attempt to do that or pretend and go. Simply go by the man, you’re so bodily.’ He regarded good at this time.”

The Razorbacks break up a pair of preseason exhibition video games in opposition to Huge 12 groups. Arkansas defeated No. 1 Kansas 85-69 at Bud Walton Area final Friday. 

Arkansas had the identical beginning 5 — Boogie Fland, Wagner, Karter Knox, Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic — because it did in opposition to the Jayhawks. The Razorbacks have been with out massive man Jonas Aidoo, a Tennessee switch and preseason All-SEC choice who additionally missed the sport in opposition to Kansas.

“I appreciated that a number of the guys struggled as a result of I advised them, ‘That is actually good. Now are you going to get your swagger again or does this knock you in a gap?’” Calipari mentioned. “I imply, these sorts of video games, you’re both profitable or studying, and we’re studying.”

Why Arkansas Misplaced

The Razorbacks couldn’t maintain on to a 13-point lead within the third quarter and didn’t maintain momentum out of TCU’s nook down the stretch. 

Participant of the Recreation: TCU C Ernest Udeh

Udeh performed a pivotal a part of the Horned Frogs comeback effort. He completed with 13 factors, 8 rebounds and a couple of blocks, and made 6 of seven from the sector.

He went down with an harm within the third quarter and stumbled off the ground earlier than returning later within the quarter.

Within the Crowd

An attendance of 4,407 within the 14,000-seat Dickies Area. The overwhelming majority was sporting Razorback purple.

Dickies Area is positioned in downtown Fort Price and isn’t the Horned Frogs’ dwelling venue. 

Up Subsequent

The Razorbacks are scheduled to open the common season in opposition to Lipscomb, the preseason favourite within the Atlantic Solar Convention, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bud Walton Area.