TCU
2-1
Arizona State
3-0
TCU Drops 52-49 Decision to Arizona State
11/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. - Edvinas Ruzgas (Vilnius, Lithuania | Weatherford College) scored 18 points, including 16 in the second half of action, but it was not enough as the Horned Frogs dropped a 52-49 decision to Arizona State in the finals of the Preseason NIT West Bracket on Tuesday.
With the setback, the Frogs dropped to 2-1 on the season while Arizona State improved to 3-0 on the 2009-10 campaign.
After back-to-back three-pointers from Ruzgas and sophomore Ronnie Moss (Fort Worth, Texas | Christian Life Academy), the Frogs took their biggest lead of the game at 48-40 with 3:54 remaining in the game.
However, the Sun Devils would go on a 12-1 run over the final 3:54 of the game to post the victory and advance to the semifinals of the Preseason NIT.
With the Frogs up by one point at 49-48, ASU guard Ty Abbott made a floater in the lane with 21.7 seconds remaining. Following a missed three-pointer by Moss, the Devils connected on a pair of free throws and escape with the 52-49 triumph.
ASU center Eric Boateng posted a double-double with a career-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds. Boateng scored 11 points over the final 9 minutes of action to lead the Sun Devils.
Moss collected 17 points in the game, including four three-pointers, to go along with seven rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes of action. Kevin Butler (Duncanville, Texas | Duncanville H.S.) collected six points and six rebounds - all offensive - to aid the Frogs.
The Frogs will be back in action on Saturday when TCU travels to Lincoln, Neb., for a showdown against Nebraska. Game time is slated for 1:05 p.m. Central Time.
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