TCU
10-15, 2-11
New Mexico
15-12, 4-8
Frogs Fall to Lobos, 74-58
2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Chad Toppert tied his career-highs with 20 points and six 3-pointers Saturday night in New Mexico's 74-58 win over TCU.
New Mexico (15-12, 4-8 Mountain West) used a 14-2 run late in the second half to hand TCU (10-15, 2-11) the loss.
Toppert hit 6 of 9 3-point shots, several of them of coming off passes from point guard Darren Prentice, who had a career-high 8 assists and scored 16 points.
Kevin Langford led TCU with 23 points.
J.R. Giddens, the Lobos' leading scorer, did not play after being suspended indefinitely by coach Ritchie McKay. His absence didn't matter against a TCU team that had 20 turnovers and struggled to find a rhythm offensively.
The Horned Frogs' troubles included a pair of airballed free throws by center Alvardo Parker in the first half.
Still, TCU was within 45-41 with 13:33 left after a layup by Femi Ibikunle.
It was mostly New Mexico after that.
New Mexico reserve Roman Martinez went to the floor while battling a TCU player for the ball and flipped it to Prentice for a layup. Jeffrey Henfield scored on an offensive rebound and Prentice hit a 15-footer. Ryan Kersten hit a 3-pointer and Prentice a pair of free throws.
Parker halted the Lobos' run with a layup, but Lobo guard Jamaal Smith hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 59-43 with 7:16 left.
Giddens, a transfer from Kansas who has been in and out of the lineup much of the season because of an injured ankle and disciplinary troubles with McKay, was thrown out of practice by the coach on Friday.
