TCU takes on league-leader San Diego State on Saturday
2/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2006
TCU at San Diego State Game Notes
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FT. WORTH, Texas -- The Horned Frogs will travel to the opposite end of the Mountain West Conference boundary, taking on league-leader San Diego State on Saturday at 9 p.m. Central.
It was eight years ago when TCU last played at San Diego State, notching a 91-69 win over the Aztecs on Feb. 14, 1998.
The two teams meet for the second time this season and fifth all-time with TCU leading the series 3-1.
GAME 26: TCU (5-20, 1-10) at San Diego State (17-7, 10-2)
TIPOFF: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006 at 9 p.m. (CT)
SITE: Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (12,414) in San Diego, Calif.
TELEVISION: None
RADIO: ESPN 103.3 FM and KTCU 88.7 FM in Fort Worth/Dallas
Brian Estridge (PBP) and John Denton (Color) will call the game on the TCU/ESPN Regional Sports Network.
ONLINE: Live Radio Broadcast and Gametracker on www.GoFrogs.com
ABOUT THE GAME
• TCU will face league-leader and preseason favorite San Diego State for the second time this season. It will be the Horned Frogs' third trip to San Diego all-time.
• The Horned Frogs are 2-0 on SDSU's home court, but must overcome the road barriers. TCU will be looking to return the Aztecs the favor after a 76-57 defeat in Fort Worth last month.
• A win by the Frogs could spoil SDSU's chance of clinching a tie for the MWC regular-season title. All four home teams (BYU at Wyoming, Air Force at Utah, UNLV at Colorado State, TCU at San Diego State) must win on Saturday for the Aztecs to get a shot at league crown. An Aztec win, coupled with losses by Air Force, Brigham Young and UNLV, would leave SDSU three games ahead in the loss column with three contests left to play.
• The Aztecs are fresh off an 81-70 win at UNLV late Thursday night after having their eight-game winning streak snapped against Utah on Feb. 11. The victory at UNLV extended SDSU's celebration on the road to five straight games. At home, the Aztecs are 10-2 on the year and 5-1 in league play.
• Despite the loss to SDSU on Jan. 18, TCU matched the Aztecs in the number of players scoring in double figures. Each team had four players finish with double-digits points with Nile Murry pacing the Frogs with 16, while Marcus Slaughter led the Aztecs with 23.
• Saturday's contest at San Diego State marks the first of three road games remaining for TCU this season. Colorado State and UNLV are the last two opponents away from home for the Frogs to play in 2005-06.
UP NEXT FOR THE HORNED FROGS
TCU continues its road swing as it heads to Colorado State on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The Horned Frogs notched their first MWC win over the Rams, 85-72, in Fort Worth last month.
After playing CSU, the Frogs will return to Fort Worth where they will first entertain BYU on Feb. 25, before wrapping up the home portion of TCU's 2005-06 schedule on March 1 against Utah.
LAST TIME OUT: New Mexico 53, at TCU 42
• Judson Stubbs collected 11 points on the night, finishing in double digits for the second game in a row and 12th time this season. He shot 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the field, dished out two assists and had one block and one steal.
• Stubbs tied a game-high seven rebounds to lead the Horned Frogs in that category for the 15th time this season.
• Junior Art Pierce started for the third straight game and fourth time in his career. He had one point and pulled down a pair of rebounds.
• For the fourth straight game and 16th time in 2005-06, TCU shot a minimum of 60 percent from the free-throw line. The Frogs went 8-of-12 at the stripe for a 66.7 clip.
• David Markley and Rob Staky made their first appearance since Jan. 19 against San Diego State. Markley played in his seventh game this season, while Staky has played in five.
• Freshman Rob Staky posted a career high in points, nailing a 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left in the game. It was also his first collegiate field goal.
ROUND ONE: AGAINST THE AZTECS
San Diego State 76, at TCU 57
Jan. 18, 2006
FORT WORTH -- Marcus Slaughter had 23 points and 18 rebounds to lead San Diego State to a 76-57 victory over TCU Wednesday night.
Slaughter was 9-of-12 from the field as the Aztecs hit 53.8 percent of their field-goal attempts, including 60.0 in the second half, while holding a 44-23 rebounding edge.
Nile Murry scored 16 points to top TCU in scoring for the 11th time in 18 games this season.
The Frogs had four players in double figures for the first time since Nov. 25 against Oklahoma State.
Judson Stubbs contributed 13 points for TCU, while Chudi Chinweze added 12 and Brent Hackett scored 11.
The Aztecs scored the game's opening five points and led 13-4 before Murry connected for seven straight points in a 1:16 stretch to pull TCU within 13-11.
The Frogs tied the game at 16-16 on a Stubbs layup. San Diego State then answered with an 18-6 spurt over the final 6:43 to close the first half with a 34-22 lead.
The Aztecs held a 23-12 first-half rebounding edge and shot 48.1 percent over the opening 20 minutes compared to 33.3 for the Frogs. TCU was at 34.0 for the game.
The Aztecs maintained their double-digit lead throughout the second half. After a Chinweze bucket cut the TCU deficit to 46-35 with 13:55 remaining, San Diego State answered with a 16-5 run for a 62-40 advantage with 6:36 to play. TCU would not get closer than 14 points the remainder of the contest.
TCU lost by double figures for just the fifth time in its 14 defeats this season.
