Jones scores 19 to lead No, 13 Texas over TCU 70-55
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Andrew Jones scored 19 points to lead Texas to a 70-55 win over TCU on Saturday as the Longhorns got their first home win in nearly a month.
Matt Coleman added 15 points and Jericho Sims had 11 points and eight rebounds for Texas, which had lost three of its last four at home, including the last two.
Texas (13-5, 7-4 Big 12) started sloppy with three turnovers in three possessions but soon cleaned up those problems. Jones found it easy to create just about any shot he wanted on his way to 13 points in the first half.
Sims then provided some inside muscle with three highlight-reel plays with a soaring dunk, a big block to break up a fast break, and a nifty midair pass and assist on a dunk that sent Texas into halftime leading by eight.
TCU (11-8, 4-6) quickly rallied in the second half and pulled within 43-41 before consecutive turnovers set up layups by Jones. The Longhorns were back in control when Greg Brown used a quick baseline burst for a dunk and TCU never threatened the lead again. Brown finished with 13 points.
R.J. Nembhard scored 15 points to lead TCU, but was mostly held in check after making four of his first five shots in the opening minutes.
BIG PICTURE
TCU: The Horned Frogs couldn’t create any inside presence to open up more outside shooting for Nembhard and Mike Miles once Texas turned up the defensive pressure on the guards. Center Kevin Samuel, who averages 9.4 points, managed just one shot in the first half and that didn’t come until the final two minutes of the half. Samuel finished with three points.
Texas: The Longhorns look like a much more confident team than a few weeks ago when they lost four of five games and dropped off the lead in the Big 12. Brown and Sims providing consistent play to complement the dynamic guard scoring of Jones and Coleman.
UP NEXT
TCU hosts No. 7 Texas Tech on Monday.
Texas plays at No. 12 Oklahoma on Tuesday.
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