TCU
10-15 (1-9MWC)
UNLV
18-6 (6-4MWC)
Rebels Run Past Frogs
2/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2011
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FORT WORTH—Junior guard Hank Thorns scored a career high 21 points and added nine assists, but UNLV shot lights-out from the field to down TCU Wednesday night at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, 94-79.
The loss dropped TCU to 10-15 overall this season and 1-9 in Mountain West Conference play. UNLV improved to 18-6 overall and 6-4 in the MWC.
The Horned Frogs had a solid offensive night, shooting 52.0 percent (26-of-50) from the field and making eight 3-pointers, but it was far from enough to keep up with the pace set by the Runnin' Rebels. UNLV made 33-of-54 field-goal attempts (61.1 percent), good for a season-high shooting rate against the Frogs. The squad, which entered the contest shooting under 30 percent from beyond the arc, went 10-for-16 from 3-point range Wednesday.
Thorns put together the top offensive performance of his career while again efficiently directly the Frogs' scoring attack. He broke the 20-point mark for the first time in his career, while he totaled nine or more helpers for the ninth time this season. Thorns shot 6-of-13 from the field overall, including 3-of-5 from outside the arc, and had only one turnover.
Senior guard Greg Hill joined Thorns in double figures with a season-high 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting. He also made a trio of 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Garlon Green recorded the first double-double of his career with 12 points and a career-best 10 rebounds while going a perfect 8-for-8 at the charity stripe. Senior forward Nikola Gacesa totaled a season-high 13 points.
Four UNLV players scored in double figures, including forward Chace Stanback and guard Tre'Von Willis, who both had 20-plus. Stanback totaled 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range, while Willis had 23 points and 3 treys. Forward Quintrell Thomas had a double-double featuring 14 points and 10 boards. Guard Oscar Bellfield scored 13 points to go along with a team-best six assists.
TCU opened the contest sharp, jumping out to an early 9-0 lead while making its first four field-goal attempts. UNLV quickly regrouped, scoring 29 of the game's next 39 points to gain a 29-19 advantage.
Willis came off the bench to key the Rebels' run, scoring 12 points in the first half, including a pair of 3-pointers. UNLV started the game 4-for-4 from outside, but its hot shooting also included work inside the arc. The squad shot a sizzling 66.7 percent (20-of-30) overall in the opening stanza.
Guard Justin Hawkins put UNLV up by 14 points with just over a minute remaining in the first half on an and-one play after being fouled on a layup in transition. A pair of Green free throws made the score 47-35 at intermission.
UNLV extended its lead to 20 points in the second half on a basket by Hawkins at the 13:41 mark, but TCU refused to give up. The Frogs went on a 22-8 run midway through the period and cut the deficit to only six points with 7:24 remaining on a bucket and free throw by Gacesa.
The Rebels answered to put the Frogs away late. Stanback made a pair of 3-pointers just over a minute apart to extend the lead back to double digits, then added a third inside the final minute to provide the game's final margin.
TCU returns to the road this weekend, when it travels to Laramie, Wyo., to take on Wyoming on Saturday. Tip-off between the Frogs and Cowboys has been set for 2:30 p.m. CT at Wyoming's Arena-Auditorium. The contest will be televised live by The MountainWest Sports Network (The Mtn.).
