Weekend setback extends losing streak to five
By Carmen Castro
Skiff Staff

The men’s basketball team (7-14, 1-8 Conference USA) had its hands full Saturday as it hosted Memphis (14-5, 5-3 C-USA) at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

The Frogs lost their fifth straight game of the season, 84-69. TCU has lost nine out of its last 10 games.

With Saturday’s loss, TCU has its back against the wall. The Frogs must now win their remaining seven games to avoid finishing below .500. TCU has had eight straight winning seasons.

Memphis head coach John Calipari said he was initially scared to death to go against TCU.

“I see a record and then you go back over games, and you see they could be 1-7 but with a minute to go they are in every game with a chance to win,” Calipari said.

Up until Saturday’s 15 point loss, the Frogs had lost four straight games by up to 10 points.

Head coach Neil Dougherty said his team is starting to get closer to executing games.

“I could probably sit here and say now that we have the hardest playing, most competitive seven-win team maybe anywhere in the country,” Dougherty said.

Senior guard Junior Blount said the possibility of ending below .500 does not change any of the team’s goals.

“We just have to go out and play to our best ability,” Blount said. “It shows up sometimes in games and sometimes it doesn’t. We just have to go out there and keep working hard.”

The last time the Frogs were above .500 this season was Jan. 4 when they were 6-5.

The Memphis Tigers were a tough defensive match for the Frogs. Blount scored TCU’s first points of the game with a pair of free throws with 16:56 left in the first half. The game was within one for the Frogs, 17-18, Memphis lead, with 11:57 to go in the first half. TCU’s only brief lead during the game came from a fast break lay-up from Blount to put TCU up 27-25.

Neither team had a double digit lead until the last minutes of the first half. The Frogs were outscored 21-6 in the final minutes of the first half.

Both Blount and senior Bingo Merriex finished the game with 16 points. Sophomore forward Corey Valsin added ll points.

The Tigers had six players in double-digit figures. The game’s high scorer was sophomore guard Billy Richmond with 20 points.

The Frogs take on Southern Mississippi 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

Carmen Castro
c.castro@tcu.edu